By CHESLEY DANIELS
Salem 1st continued with their excellent form and ARE still unbeaten in the Grahamstown Cricket Board’s (GCB) 1st League. They also widened their lead at the top of the GCB 1st Log Standings, while Station Hill accompanied the top position in the 2nd League after round five.
There were only two centuries and one five wicket-haul recorded over the past weekend. Kevin Bennett (111* – Salem) and JC Pittaway (114 – Port Alfred 2nds), while Mornay Kohl (6/69 – Swallows) took the only five-wicket haul.
GCB 1ST LEAGUE
Salem vs Cuylerville
Salem’s unbeaten run continues with an impressive bonus-point thrashing of Cuylerville. Salem went in to bat first and made full use of the batting conditions while posting a formidable 256/7 in their allotted 50 overs. Salem started slowly but regained momentum through the middle order batsmen led by centurion Kevin Bennett. The veteran made his first appearance this season and went on to top score with a match-winning unbeaten 111*. Brad Wilmot (35) and James Mullins (20) also contributed with the bat and looked good in the middle. For Cuylerville, Brandon Handley 3/36 (8) and Ryan Beydeveldt 2/50 (10) took wickets for their side.
Salem bowlers were on fire in the quest in defending their total, bowling exceptionally well in the second innings. The evergreen Bryn Wakeford again led from the front bowling excellent areas and finished with impressive bowling figures of 4/35 (8), claiming the wickets of the big guns Handley, Gleaves and Muir. He was well supported by Ivan Marais 3/17 in 4 overs (who also bowled brilliantly), Buster Brotherton 1/7 (3) and Leard King 1/17 (6). Only Neil Van Der Linde (19) and Charlie Muir (16) managed double figures as Cuylerville tumbled for a mere 85 all out.
Salem won by 171 runs and also earned a bonus point in the process.
Sidbury vs Southwell
Southwell marched on with a massive win against Sidbury on Saturday. Southwell is currently 3rd on the log, batted first and posted a decent 257/9 (50). The big-hitting Chris Roberts top score with a hurricane 87, while Josh Van Rensburg and Richard Moss contributed 39* and 25 respectively. Greg Evans 3/34 (7) and Damon Weeks 3/51 (9) were the standout bowlers for Sidbury.
Southwell bowlers came out guns-blazing and bowled Sidbury out for just 57 runs in 18.3 overs. The in-form swing bowler Murray Hobson was the pick of the bowlers with 3/13 (7) while receiving excellent support from Van Rensburg 3/30 (6) and Guy Bladen 2/10 (3.3).
Southwell won by a massive 200 runs and an all-important bonus point.
GCB 2ND LEAGUE
Cuylerville vs Station Hill
Cuylerville 183 (38)
– Simon Botha 40, Greg Pike 34
• Andley Jones 2/28 (10), Franklin Jacobs 1/40 (6)
Station Hill 184/4 (26)
– Lyndon Coltman 51, Keanen Arends 51
• K Geldenhuys 2/43 (5), S Yendall 1/16 (5)
Station Hill won by 6 wickets and a bonus point
Swallows vs Titans
Titans 194
– Bongo Draai 54, S Minyelela 28
• Mornay Kohl 6/69, Jamie Koesnel 2/15
Swallows 195/3
– Luvane Daniels 96*, Kohl 29
• B Tukela 2/32
Swallows won by 7 wickets
Port Alred vs Southwell
Port Alfred 260
– JC Pittaway 114, Andrew Pittaway 35
• Dale Waters 4/58 (10), J Cameron 2/34 (10), John Knott 1/62 (10)
Southwell 225/9 (50)
– James Stirk 83, D Ford 56, J Knott 22*
• J Salt 2/39 (10), A Pittaway 2/42 (10), Howarth 1/16 (4)
Port Alfred won by 35 runs
Manleys vs Rainbows
Manleys 245
• Mlonyeni 4/38 (7), T Shotana 1/35 (8)
Rainbows 236
– Shotana 95, L Mangi 32, Mpuphu 49
Manleys won by ten runs
Sidbury vs Early Birds
*Early Birds didn’t pitch for the figure, and Sidbury received soft points.
GCB 1st League Log
As 30 October 2021
Salem 24 (4)
Cuylerville 18 (4)
Southwell 17 (4)
Makana Sona 9 (4)
Willows 9 (4)
Sidbury 6 (3)
Rhodes 4 (7)
GCB 2nd League Log
As 30 October 2021
Station Hill 30 (5)
Port Alfred 28 (5)
Manley Flats 24 (5)
Southwell 19 (4)
Swallows 15 (5)
Shrews 15 (8)
Sidbury 13 (4)
Cuylerville 12(4)
Salem 11(3)
Rainbows 7 (5)
Kenton 6(4)
Tiger Titans 6(5)
Early Birds minus 2 (5)
