Pirates lost at sea
Knysna Cavaliers and Pirates United cricket clubs' 2nd XIs faced off in a rain-reduced SWD Reserve League clash at the Hornlee sports grounds on Sunday 17 November, with the former emerging victorious by six wickets. The two teams had previously locked horns in the first Knysna cricket derby of the 2019/20 Reserve League season, with a game at Loerie Park on 6 October. Cavaliers, who emerged victorious there, earned a 125-run victory over their Knysna counterparts courtesy of a phenomenal bowling performance from Quinton Visagie that saw him claim eight wickets for only four runs in 3.5 overs.
Thereafter the two sides would experience somewhat opposite fortunes with Cavaliers' 2nd XI enduring a three-match losing streak against George, Thembalethu and, most recently, Pioneers. Pirates would also lose their next two games, but would head into the latest clash with Cavaliers off the back of a phenomenal performance against George, claiming an impressive 9-wicket victory.
The game on 17 November would be under non-ideal circumstances, as Knysna had endured some rather wet weather the day before and the morning of the match. This meant the pitch had to dry up first, which saw the coin toss only come at 12:00, with Cavaliers winning the toss and electing to bowl while the game was reduced to 35 overs a side.
Cavaliers' opening bowlers Byron Jantjies and Divan Luiters would pin Pirates back well, with the home side (Pirates) only able to reach 19-0 after the first 10 overs. Pirates' opening batsmen Warren Pietersen and James Goliath would continue to grind through the innings, eventually reaching 52 before Japie Nel made the breakthrough for Cavaliers by trapping Pietersen LBW for 21 runs.
Nel would continue to roll in the wickets, claiming three more, while Jon Dicks and Werner Mels would chip in with one and three wickets respectively. Nel would be the pick of Cavaliers' bowlers thanks to his four wickets for only 20 runs in seven overs, with Pirates reaching 96. Cavaliers would get off to a decent start, with the first wicket falling with the side on 29.
Dean Dollie would pile on the runs for Cavaliers, top-scoring for the side with 36 runs. Rudolph Gerber and Dicks would hand Cavaliers a late flurry of runs, with the former scoring 20*. Dicks would score the winning runs for Cavaliers with a straight drive for six back over the clubhouse, to seal out a dominant day for Cavaliers.