Teams square up for thrilling final

AFTER so many rain interrupted matches, last weekend saw two full days of cricket. The Colts and Eagles played the final round robin game on Saturday to advance to the semi-finals. The Colts batted first cracking a massive 210 for seven. Matt Denton-Cooke scored 67 runs, Raja Kazi 34 and Kyle Pepworth 29. Jurie Geldenhuys was definitely the pick of the bowlers for the Eagles claiming three for 27. The Eagles battled with some fantastic bowling from Matt Denton-Cooke who took a match-winning six for 22 ending the Eagles’ hopes on 65 all out and the Colts won by an impressive 145 runs.

Having beaten the Eagles the Colts squared up to face PSCC in the first semi-final and batting first, only managed to score 89runs. PSCC took its time and managed to surpass the score in the 19th over to win by five wickets. Dirkie Coetzee was the pick of the batsmen scoring 41 not out.

Sezela and DMCC squared off in the second semi. Sezela batted first posting 113 all out with Mike Hooper top scoring with 40 runs. DMCC bowler Dale Potgieter took four for 25 and Calvin Ledward three for 13. DMCC batsman Anton Potgieter got his team off to a flying start smashing 50 in 23 balls assisted by Nikita Sole who scored 23 not out. DMCC won the match by five wickets.

The final hosted by PSCC against DMCC was a thriller. PSCC won the toss and sent DMCC in to bat. The experienced veterans Anton Potgieter (51 runs) and Wickus Pretorius (63 runs) put on a display of shots helping DMCC to a total of 148 for five.

PSCC bowlers shared in the spoils with Matt Louw, Cyal Eigermann, Noel Pieterse, Keith Evans and Prantosh Kalkerpersad all taking one wicket apiece but the team got off to a bad start losing their top four batsmen for only 30 runs until 20-year old Derick ‘Diesel’ Horlock put on a master class performance smashing the ball to every part of the ground and with excellent running between the wickets scored 64 runs in a 105 run partnership with Greg Wigmore who scored 37 not out.

The game went down to the final over when DMCC finally managed to claim the wicket of Derick Horlock via a run- out. Needing a six from the last ball, batsman Greg Wigmore was just not able to get it over the line resulting in PSCC’s run chase falling just four runs short with 145 for four. Barry Carlson was the pick of the bowlers claiming two for 19 and Calvin Ledward no wicket for 15 in four overs. DMCC won by three runs and claimed the 2013/2014 20/20 trophy.

In the premier league, Southern Natal XI battled in a rain interrupted game losing by eight wickets against the mighty Crusaders.