CRICKET NEWS - The Six Gun Grill SWD Premier League competition resumed on Saturday after the holiday break and produced some interesting results.
The defending champions, Pacaltsdorp United, playing at home, were restricted to 156 against Union Stars II thanks to some tight bowling by Corné Kennedy (4/39) and Lifa Ntanzi (3/30).
The experienced Warren Bell (60) added a solid and valuable half century. The Union Stars II batting crumbled against Ricardo Majolla (4/4) and Anoxolo Kitshini 4/31) as the visitors were dismissed for only 81, giving Pacaltsdorp a 68-run bonus point victory.
With this victory Pacaltsdorp now joins Union Stars I at the top of the table.
George produced their best performance of the season as they defeated Sussex, who were the joint log leader before the weekend's action, by eight wickets at Rooirivierrif. Sussex were bowled out for a competitive 171, with provincial players Kelly Smuts (4/24) and Khwezi Gumede (3/43) the best bowlers for George.
Fine batting performances by Mark Andrianatos (73*) and De Wet Steyn (51) navigated George to an eight-wicket bonus point victory as they surpassed the target (172/2) in the 35th over.
Union Stars I (72/0) consolidated their position at the top of the leaderboard as they bulldozed the winless Plett Pioneers (71 all out) with a 10-wicket bonus point victory at the Bridgton Sports Grounds. For Union Stars, Lee-Henry Meyer (6/30) bagged six wickets for the second consecutive weekend.
In a mouthwatering encounter at the Military Sports Club, the home side, Harlequins Forces, posted a competitive 193 thanks to a half century by Hlompo Modimokoane (56).
Cavaliers (194/9) clinched a nail-biting one-wicket victory thanks to a 62-run partnership for the ninth wicket between the 19-year-old pair of Stefan May (63) and Charl-Francois Marais (28*). For Harlequins, Rhupino Plaatjies bagged 4/38).
The summarised score cards for the weekend are:
Union Stars I beat Plett Pioneers by 10 wickets:
Plett Pioneers 71 all out - 24.1 overs (Tyrese Karelse 24, Lee Henry Meyer 6/30, Denovan Ekstraal 2/25)
Union Stars I 72/0 - 9.6 overs (Breyton Plaatjies 34*, Yaseen Vali 33*)
George beat Sussex by 8 wickets:
Sussex 171 all out - 42.4 overs (Johandré Barnard 35, Wayne Gelant 24, Riedewaan Heunis 22, Kelly Smuts 4/24, Kwezi Gumede 3/43)
George 172/2 - 34.4 overs (Mark Adrianatos 73*, De Wet Steyn 51, Kelly Smuts 22)
Pacaltsdorp United beat Union Stars II by 68 runs:
Pacaltsdorp United 156 all out - 33.2 overs (Warren Bell 60, Corné Kennedy 4/39, Lifa Ntanzi 3/30, Dillon Moos 2/37)
Union Stars II 88 all out - 31.5 overs (Ricardo Majolla 4/4, Anoxolo Khitshini 4/31, Liyabona Malife 2/37)
Knysna Cavaliers beat Harlequins Forces by 1 wicket:
Harlequins Forces 193 all out - 41.1 overs (Hlompho Modimokoane 56, Cameron Avontuur 33, Hayden Sweet 2/23, AB van der Walt 2/27, Charl Francois Marais 2/33)
Knysna Cavaliers 194/9 - 40.5 overs (Stefan May 63, Johnathan Bester 28, Charl Francois Marais 28*, Rhupino Plaatjies 4/38)
WEEKEND CLUB FIXTURES
The ninth round of the premier league competition will be contested this weekend. An interesting match is expected in the Promotion League on Sunday when Heidelberg United will host Mossel Bay.
The fixtures for the weekend are:
Saturday
Premier League
Union Stars II vs Union Stars I, George vs Plett Pioneers, Sussex vs Knysna Cavaliers, Harlequins Forces vs Pacaltsdorp United
Promotion League
Thembalethu vs Ladismith, Ramblers vs New Dawn Park
Women's Division 1
Pacaltsdorp United vs George, Harlequins Forces vs Union Stars
Women's Division 2
Thembalethu vs Knysna Cavaliers
Sunday
Promotion League
Heidelberg United vs Mossel Bay
Reserve League: Division 1
Sussex C vs Thembalethu B, George D vs George C
Calitzdorp Young Stars B vs Harlequins Forces B
Women's Division 1
Harlequins Forces vs Sussex
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