Cavaliers through to T20 semis
KNYSNA - In a bid to continue their title defence, Knysna Cavaliers last weekend defeated Plett Pioneers in the quarter-finals of the SWD T20 Competition, securing their spot in the semi-finals this weekend.
Cavaliers and Pioneers faced off at Loerie Park in Knysna on Saturday 14 October, with both having progressed from the group stages as winner of their respective pools – Pool H and Pool G. Pioneers won the toss, choosing to bat first. Opening batsmen Danrick Moodien and Mark Vermeulen made a positive start for Pioneers, reaching 36-0 in the first four overs.
Things changed quickly though as Vermeulen as well as Garden Route Badgers captain Jean du Plessis fell to Cavaliers bowler Blake Linder in the fifth over.
Pioneers batters found the going tough from there, but Moodien stayed steadfast at the crease refusing to go down easily.
Along with some big hitting from Eden Tarentaal (18 off 10 balls) in the middle overs, Moodien (41 off 52) helped Pioneers reach 124-7 in 20 overs.
Linder was Cavaliers' top bowler, taking two wickets for 12 runs in four overs, while Werner Mels also claimed two wickets, conceding 23 runs in his four overs. Jarred Jardine and Mesuli Vuba also claimed a wicket each for the home side.
Cavaliers' run chase got off to a very rocky start as they slumped to 24-3 due to early wickets from Badgers bowler Marcello Piedt and Keith Oraai (two). However, Cavaliers captain Hayden Sweet and Badgers batsman Keenan Vieira put on a match-winning 67-run partnership for the fourth wicket for Cavaliers.
Sweet fell for 48 with his team on 91-4, but Vieira ensured that Cavaliers reached their target with 2,5 overs to spare, with him reaching his 50 off 38 balls when he scored the winning runs.
Oraai's two wickets ensured he was Pioneers' top bowler, conceding 25 runs in his three overs. Piedt and Mbuyiseli Malanga took a wicket each.
Cavaliers, who won the SWD T20 Competition and finished as runners-up in the Premier League last season, will travel to Oudtshoorn this weekend to take on last season's T20 runners-up and Premier League winners Pacaltsdorp United at the Recreation Ground in one of two semi-finals on Saturday 21 October. The other semi-final will be contested by Union Stars A and Union Stars B, last season's SWD Promotion PromotionDivision Division A winners. The two semi-final winners will play in the