By MATTHEW PETERSEN
Despite gloomy conditions and the occasional drizzle falling on Sunday afternoon, the Grahamstown Cricket Board (CGB) continued with the next round of fixtures. Southwell and Rhodes University’s 1st Cricket team battled through the conditions to play out their league encounter at Prospect field. Rhodes had played on Saturday against Cuylerville but unfortunately suffered defeat in that game too.
Southwell batted first and batted at a steady rate, trying to keep the runs ticking on a tricky batting surface. Rhodes’ bowling lineup did well to limit Southwell scoring big runs, taking wickets at regular intervals to disrupt any momentum for Southwell. Rhodes did enough to bowl Southwell out before the allotted 50 overs, dismissing them for 150 runs in 44 overs. Anslem top-scored for Southwell from the beginning of the innings with 27 runs, supported by Kyle Van Niekerk, who scored a solid 22. The pick of the Rhodes bowlers were Nick Dettmer and Bradley Van Heerden, who posted figures of 3/24 and 2/27 respectively in their allotted ten overs.
Rhodes would have fancied their chances to chase down the total and started their innings at a steady rate, matching Southwell’s scoring rate through the first ten overs. However, they lost wickets far too regularly as the middle-order all failed to register double-digits. Due to the heroics of Adrian Wright, who posted a brilliant 57 runs and carried his bat from the number four position, and supported by Denham Shepstone’s 23, the scorecard could have looked a lot worse for Rhodes. In the end, they were dismissed for 129 runs in just 30 overs, losing by 21 runs. Murray Hobson was the pick of the bowlers for Southwell, posting figures of 4/32 runs in seven overs. He was supported well by G. Bladen, who posted figures of 3/23 in his nine overs.
Southwell has now registered back-to-back wins this season, while Rhodes will search for their first win after a loss last weekend and on Saturday against Cuylerville. The boys will want to get back to playing consistent cricket ahead of two crucial games next weekend.
There was some other cricket action for Rhodes this weekend as their 2nd cricket team, the Shrews, posted another incredible low-scoring victory over Rainbows. The Shrews were bowled out for 79 runs in 20 overs. Defending a low total, they bowled Rainbows out for just 47. Dean Van Heerden starred with the ball as he posted unbelievable figures of 8/24 in 4.3 overs. The Shrews secured a 32-run win with a bonus point.
MATCH SUMMARY: Rhodes 1st Team vs Cuylerville, Saturday 17 October
- Cuylerville 312 all out (47 overs): Muir 105; BH 76; Muir 46. A.Wright 5/73 (10); Spha 3/51 (7)
- Rhodes 235 all out (43.3): Adrian 93; Denham 43; Dave 37; Brad 24. Klopper 2/19 (10); James 2/84 (10); BH 3/20 (2.3)
