Willows too strong for Sidbury

Willows Cricket Club 1st XI proved too good for their Sidbury opponents in their Grahamstown Cricket Board's (GCB) 1st league fixture on Sunday.

Willows clinched a clinical 55 run win at Sidbury.

In hot and humid conditions next to the N2, the visitors won the toss and elected to bat. Willows made use of the batting friendly pitch and scored a massive 320/8 in their allotted 50 overs. Their openers Mohammed Sonday (61) and Bradley Christian (24), gave Willows a solid start with a half century opening stand, before Christian’s departure.

But it was the aggression of Sonday which carried things forward with 61 that included eight 4s and a 6.

The in-form Abner Accom continued where Sonday left off and played a flamboyant knock of 57 (10 4s, two 6s), before Marquin Loutz (34), Melville Daniels (30) and Ruwayne Brooks (20) played crucial supporting roles in ensuring the massive total. Andy Goliohtly (3/43 in 9 overs) and Greg Evans (2/46 in 8) were the home side's best bowlers.

Sidbury’s opening pair gave their side a hurricane start in their run-chase and dispatched the Willows opening bowlers who bowled both sides of the wickets.

But the slower and experienced Willows bowlers came to the rescue and swung the game back in their favour, bowling economically and taking wickets in the process. Offspinner Marquin Loutz was the destroyer-in-chief, taking four wickets for 35 runs in eight overs.

The medium pacers in Sonday (2/40 in 7) and Melville Daniels (1/52 in 8) gave excellent support and put further pressure on the Sidbury batsmen who lost wickets at regular intervals.

John Roth was Sidbury’s best batsman with a fine innings of 46 (six 4s and two 6s), while Steven Harmer (39), Hannes Louwrens (38), Sean Biggs (33) and Greg Evans (31), all tried too, but ultimately failed the run chase. Sidbury were bowled out for 265 in 42.1 overs and Willows won by 55 runs.

Willows face Makana Sona in a local derby at Albany this weekend.