GEORGE CRICKET NEWS - Against all odds, George became the new SWD Cricket Premier League champion on Saturday when they outplayed a star-studded Union Stars in the final at the REC Cricket Ground in Oudtshoorn for a comprehensive 4-wicket victory.
To crown a spectacular and highly successful season, George also won the SWD T20 title and the women's Promotion League for 2019/2020.
George, who played in their third consecutive final and won the Petersen Trophy for the first time since 2003/04, deserves credit for the impressive way in which they outmanoeuvred Union Stars, who dominated the pool stage during the season. From the outset, George looked much more hungry for success than LeRoi Bredenkamp and his troops.
Stars, who won the toss and elected to bat, never got their innings going, thanks to tight and economical bowling spells by Joshua Klue (0/10 in 6 overs), Jaco Fourie (1/14 in 10 overs) and Grant Simpson (0/20 in 10 overs).
With their score at 95/5 after 30 overs, a total of 150 looked out of reach, but the 38-year old Pieter Stuurman showed his class with a more than a run-a-ball 43 (from 35 balls, 2x6, 2x4) to enable Union Stars to post 174/8.
Bailey Aarons (4/58 from 9 overs) was George's most successful bowler.
The first team of George Cricket Club who won the SWD Premier League competition for 2019/20 last Saturday. They are at the back, from left: Hannes van Niekerk, Neil Hornbuckle, Arie van Dolderen (club chairman), Ayabonga Anthony, Bailey Aarons, Josua Klue and Levin Muller. Front: Gary Wagner, Richardt Frenz, Johandré Barnard (captain), Kevin Gibson, Jaco Fourie, Grant Simpson and Franco Geldenhuys.
An aggressive, well-played innings by Levin Muller (61 from 68 balls, 2x6, 9x4) laid the foundation for George to establish momentum from the start.
Muller and Neil Hornbuckle (36 from 38 balls, 1x6, 3x4) shared an 89-runs partnership for the second wicket and together with a vital captain's innings by Johandré Barnard (36 from 61 balls; 5x4) steered George to reach the winning target - 175/6 in the 40th over.
George will now face the Premier League winners of Western Province and Boland in a triangular competition from 27 to 29 March to determine who will represent the Western Cape in the Momentum national club championships in Pretoria during April.
The summarised score card is:
George beat Union Stars by 4 wickets:
UNION STARS 175/8 - 50 overs (Envirino Swartz 26, Tyrece Karelse 38, Pieter Stuurman 43, Bailey Aarons 4/58).
GEORGE 175/5 - 39,3 (Levin Muller 61*, Neil Hornbuckle 36, Johandré Barnard 36, Dylan Nuys 2/25).
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