Winning weekend for Pinetown Cricket Club
It was just what Pinetown needed following a disappointing loss to Topham Cricket Club in the opening week of the season.
PINETOWN Cricket Club’s first XI took on Delta Cricket Club at Lahee Park as the home side registered its first win of the 2015/16 Castle Premier League season with a narrow two-wicket victory following a match-defining all-round display from Kyle Buckthorp.
It was just what Pinetown needed following a disappointing loss to Topham Cricket Club in the opening week of the season.
The Pinetown bowlers started with an early breakthrough from Sunfoil Dolphins all-rounder, Rob Frylinck (1/8). Some tight bowling from Kyle Buckthorp, who returned with figures of 3/33 in his 10 overs, meant the visitors never managed to get away to a more substantial score. He was well-supported in the middle overs by left-arm spinner, Jordan Gregory, whose ten overs went for a miserly 32 runs and yielded two wickets.
A good hand was played by the other left-arm tweaker, Chris Pentz (2/11), who picked up two valuable wickets at the end of the Delta innings, halting their press for 200. However, Delta fought back with a stubborn partnership towards the end that saw them to 186 all out in the 48th over, leaving the home side with a tricky chase.
The loss of the first three batsmen in the order meant that Pinetown was put under pressure, with the 187 looking a long way off. However, Bruce Kerr (26) and captain, Tim Spence (43), led to the home side getting their chase back on track. As was the case in their opening game of the season, the Pinetown side suffered a mini collapse, losing the bulk of the middle to lower order fairly cheaply, leaving them at 134/8 and still needing 53 to win the game.
A measured, mature knock from Kyle Buckthorp (47*), who was ably supported by his brother, Dylan (11*), meant that Pinetown could chip away at the deficit and ultimately go past the required target with a few balls to spare and two wickets in the bank.
Next week sees the first XI taking on Crusaders at Lahee Park, the second XI taking on Chatsworth United away and the third XI playing against Hillary-Malvern at Malvern Park.
