Wow, after such a shit start to the season, the Rollers have really pulled themselves together and have started delivering the kind of performances we always knew we were capable of.
Following on from last week’s nine-wicket thrashing of Western Province Cricket Club, the Rollers recorded a thumping 126-run victory against Gardens Old Boys at the PP Smit fields in Bellville on Sunday afternoon.
On a blistering hot day, we won the toss and elected to take first strike, with our ‘revised lotto system’ drawing Neville Cooper to open with Hannes Carlson. Like at WPCC, we got off to a rapid start, with Nev particularly harsh on their opening bowlers.
Casper, too, looked good, including one crisp pull shot for four, before he lost his head and swung at a full, straight one to be bowled for 10.
Ryan Cooper joined his brother and finally found some form after an extended dry patch, taking notes as Neville completed his second successive unbeaten half-century before retiring to make way for Hannes Engelbrecht.
Haas, wielding Nico Rheeder’s exquisite Black Widow, was in no mood to let the run-rate drop and set upon the bowlers in some style, playing his trademark flat-bats which at one point had the mid-off fielder pulling his hands out of the way of a catch.
He got to 18 before shuffling across his stumps and being adjudged LBW, bringing Scooter to the crease. He was soon joined by Charl Viljoen after Ryan retired on 50, but Dronk lasted but a few balls before being bowled for two.
Nicky Rheeder joined Scooter at the crease and also took an aggressive approach, hitting three fours in his 17 before being bowled, while Hannes Moore skied one soon afterwards to head back to the hut for two.
“Kom ons sny sy tril af en tel die ringe, dan weet ons mos’
Jakes Oberholzer scored a brisk 19 before being stumped and, with Scooter ‘retiring’ on 29 due to some old person’s problem, it was left to Slang (2*) and debutant Chris Thompson (8*) to guide the Rollers to an intimidating 229/6 after 35 overs.
In response, Gardens got off to a solid start, with Dennis and Jason putting on 43 before Kepler had the captain caught at midwicket. From there it was a steady progression of wickets as the Rollers never really allowed the opposition to get into the game.
Jakes was his stingy self by conceding just 23 off his seven overs and picking up two wickets, while Casper was even better with 2/18 off his five. The two Rheeders then wrapped things up – either side of two run-outs – with Slang tossing 24 grenades to finish with 1/8, and his offspring going even better to finish with 2/12.
So a crushing win for the Mighty-again Rollers – now let’s carry that form into 2011 and break some more records.
Have a great festive break and be safe – no drinking and driving please.
Chirp of the Day: There were many, particularly from Dronk and Haas, but one Dronk classic in the changerooms afterwards while discussing Slang’s real age went something like this: “Kom ons sny sy tril af en tel die ringe, dan weet ons mos’