LMS cricket final a blast
EMMARENTIA – Choc Cows captain, Brendan de Jongh was proud his team even made the final, having beaten one of the world's top-ranked sides, Rebels, in the semi-final.
Last man stands cricket leagues that were supposed to finish in April saw their finals held in mid-September but with no less enthusiasm on the part of players and spectators.
The Saturday 1 league, the most competitive league in the eight-man game in Joburg, saw its final played out under bright skies at Marks Park Sports Club after a long break due to the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing lockdown.
When the shorter format of cricket was given the go-ahead by government to resume, players met for one weekend of practice games before meeting at Marks Park for the final.
The game saw Choc Cows win the toss and send Die Span out to bat.
The rustiness showed but players shrugged this off as the game went on and Die Span batted well to set a total of 155/3 in their 20 overs.
Riaan Brough scored an excellent 49 not out in 32 balls while Werner Snyman was the only bowler of Choc Cows who could limit the scoring, conceding only 14 runs in his four overs.
Snyman again shone for Choc Cows in their run chase when he scored 55 off 33 balls.
But Choc Cows fell to 129 all out in 19.3 overs and lost by 26 runs.
While Die Span’s bowler Iwan Pretorius did exceptionally well to take three wickets for 20 runs in his four overs, Snyman was awarded man of the match for his heroics for the losing side.
“We are always happy with a win,” Die Span’s captain PJ Gouws told Northcliff Melville Times after the game.
“We have a team full of all-rounders and when our opening batsmen didn’t get us of to the start we wanted, we had the depth to still make a winning score. Then our bowlers did a fantastic job.”
Gouws was particularly proud that his team won its second league in a row and third league out of the last four.
Choc Cows captain, Brendan de Jongh was proud his team even made the final, having beaten one of the world’s top-ranked sides, Rebels, in the semi-final.
“Our guys played well and the difference between our semi-final and final was we gave away too many extras,” De Jongh said.
“Hopefully next year we can win it.”
