CRICKET NEWS - After a drought of six years (since 2018/19), the Union Stars Cricket Club from Oudtshoorn will again have the Peterson Trophy in their trophy cabinet.

Union Stars outplayed their challengers – Sussex from Mossel Bay – in the final at the REC Ground in Oudtshoorn on Saturday to win by seven wickets.

Union Stars, that won the toss, opted to bowl first in front of an enthusiastic crowd and turned on the pressure from the word go. The opening bowler and top wicket-taker in the league, Lee-Henry Meyer, did not disappoint his captain and teammates as he bagged 6/40 – bowling ten overs on the trot. The Union Stars fielders were sharp and took some fine catches. Sussex never recovered and was dismissed for a modest 96 – the second lowest score in a final.

The veteran, Roual de Reuck (21 from 62 balls) fought a lonely battle as Reagon Rhode (3/9) was also destructive with some fine leg spin-bowling.

In spite of losing two early wickets, Grant Esa (32*) and Thurstin Murphy (27*) batted with great responsibility for an unbeaten 54-run partnership of the fourth wicket to reach the target (97/3) after 20 overs for an easy seven-wicket victory.

Union Stars, as winners of the SWD title, will now compete on the weekend 28 to 30 March against the winners of the Boland and Western Province to determine who will represent the Western Cape in the Cricket South Africa Club championship.

Summarised scorecard

Union Stars beat Sussex by 7 wickets:

Sussex 96 all out – 26.5 overs (Roual de Reuck 21, Lee-Henry Meyer 6/40, Reagon Rhode 3/9).

Union Stars 99/3 – 20 overs (Grant Esau 32*, Thurstin Murphy 27*, Jean Heunis 25).

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’