Clares ride purple patch
CLARES Cricket Club are riding a purple patch in their first season of playing Premier League cricket.
Having been promoted last year from KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union’s (KZNCU) Challenge League, the Asherville-based club’s vision was to finish among the top six. Sunday’s win sees them firmly entrenched in second spot, behind Crusaders Cricket Club.
In the match, hosted by Berea Rovers, the home team won the toss and put Clares in to bat with rain threatening.
Clares suffered an early setback when opener Jason Wagner was out for 10. Tylor Trenoworth was then joined by Mishkal Ramsaroop and the pair mixed caution with aggression to take the score to 81 before Trenoworth was clean bowled.
Ramsaroop was then joined by Dolphins player Vaughn van Jaarsveld. But Van Jaarsveld did last long in the middle and Clares lost their third wicket for 108 when he was caught while attempting to clear the ropes.
Smeet Patel joined Ramsaroop at the crease and the pair put on a 96-run partnership before Patel was caught at midwicket.
With overs running out, Clares looked to pile on the runs but the switch to all-out aggression led to a fall of wickets and they ended with a score of 271 for eight wickets in their allotted 50 overs. Ramsaroop, who top-scored with 124, was the seventh batsman to lose his wicket.
Pleased
Rovers began the run chase after the lunch break, but they lost wickets at regular intervals and were bowled out for 103 runs. Matthew Armstrong was the only notable scorer with 30.
Medium pacer Vyash Gobind was the pick of the Clares’ bowlers with a match haul of 4/23. He was ably supported by Adhil Jadwat, who took 3/10.
Club chairman Rajen Ramsaroop said he was pleased with the performance.
“At the start of the season, we threw away two winning games due to inexperience. But this made us wiser and more in tune with how to cope in the Premier League.
“Our philosophy now is to take each game as it comes. There are still six games to go before the season ends and anything can happen,” said Ramsaroop.
He said the management was thankful to sponsors for their support.
“The club is almost 80 years old and we were able to renovate the ground and changeroom at Asherville.”
The club also has Proteas spinner Imran Tahir on their books.
“Although it’s difficult to replace players away on national or provincial duty, we have depth in our squad and are not found wanting,” said Ramsaroop, whose son, Mishkal, plays for the provincial B squad.
The club has already been named joint winner of the KZNCU T20 competition.