Cavaliers 1st and 2nd teams fly high
Blake Linder
Knysna Cavaliers Cricket Club is flying high in the SWD cricket structures after both its sides earned victories in their games last weekend with the 1sts overcoming Ramblers while the 2nds trumped Thembalethu.
Both of Cavaliers' sides were back in action after a two-week break, before which the 1sts had defeated Pioneers while the 2nds had lost to Pioneers' 2nd team. For their return to action, the second team would face Thembalethu in Hornlee, hoping to avenge their loss at the hands of the same side earlier in the season. The 1sts on the other hand would face Ramblers at Loerie Park, who have over the years proved to be a lingering thorn in Cavaliers' side.
Second team
Second-team captain Jannie Cremer would lose the toss, with Thembalethu captain Andrew Jantjies electing to bat first. Even though the away side would score runs at a good rate, a consistent loss of wickets would see them bowled out for 169 with Andre Mlando top-scoring for Thembalethu with 79. Quinton Visagie would again be Cavaliers' top bowler with four wickets for 50 runs in his eight overs.
Cavaliers' batsmen would slightly falter at the start of the innings, with the top three not able to score more than 16. A few more wickets would fall before Captain Cremer would steady the ship somewhat with Visagie at the other end. The latter would be stumped on 49 while Cremer would topscore with 63* to see his side through to a three-wicket victory.
First team
First-team captain JP Ellis would do one better than his second-team counterpart by winning the toss for Cavaliers, electing to bowl first at Loerie Park. The home side would get off to a tough start as Ramblers' openers looked set to provide the side with a good platform from which to capitalise. AB van der Walt claimed the first Ramblers wicket with the side on 41, but stellar bowling from Cavaliers would see the remaining nine wickets fall for only 52 runs, with Francois Bonthuys the pick of the bowlers as he managed three wickets for only 13 runs in his 10 overs.
Cavaliers' batsmen remained in control of their run chase for the majority of the innings, with opener Maurice White topscoring with 36 runs while the rest of the batsmen chipped in with cameos here and there. A late collapse nearly cost Cavaliers as they went from 85-3 to 92-7, but SWD batsman Todd Walker would see the home side through to secure a three-wicket victory.
Both of Cavaliers’ sides were back in action after a twoweek break.