After three defeats on the spin, the Rollers returned to winning ways in emphatic style with a comfortable 94-run victory at Gardens on Sunday.
As usual, the scenery was beautiful and the wind was blowing, but looking at the pitch one could have been forgiven for thinking you were staring at a Day 5 pitch in Pune.
It was dry, two-paced and with cracks aplenty, but still the Rollers decided to bat after winning the toss – and despite many nursing hangovers from a West Coast wedding the night before.
One such reprobate, Cornell Keulder, got us off to a flier, hitting a straight six off the second ball he faced before repeating the feat twice more. He eventually fell for 25, before the two quick wickets of Hannes Carlson (12) and Nicky Rheeder (0) left the visitors at 65/3.
But with Neville Cooper (20) battling hard at one end, Michael van Dewenter strode to the wicket and hit a classy quickfire 20, before Ryan Cooper found some form, hitting three sixes in his 59.
Andrew Young (22) and debutant Jarryd van Wyk (22*) then struck some lusty blows towards the end to see the Rollers post a formidable 221/8 in 35 overs.
With the wind picking up and the wicket showing up even more, it was always going to be a tough ask for Gardens.
Mike (2/6) got us the early breakthroughs we needed, before Cornell returned to rip through the middle-order to finish with 4/31, which included two proper diving (which he insists was necessary) TV catches.
Jacques Laubscher (2/4) turned his golden arm over for two sticks before Nicky got the final wicket with a ball that apparently moved off the pitch twice as Gardens were dismissed for 128 inside 26 overs.
Thanks again to Andre de Kock and his team for a great day out, and the now customary hospitality shown after the game.
BATTING Neville Cooper 20 (1×4) Cornell Keulder 25 (3×6, 1×4) Hannes Carlson 12 (1×6) Nicky Rheeder 0 Michael van Dewenter 20 (4×4) Ryan Cooper 59 (3×6, 7×4) Claude Louw 9 (1×4) Andrew Young 22 (1×6, 2×4) Ruan de Jongh 7* (1×4) Jarrod van Wyk 22* (2×4)
Extras: 30 TOTAL: 221/8 (35 overs)
BOWLING Cornell Keulder 7-0-31-4 Michael van Dewenter 6-2-16-2 Hannes Carlson 4-0-22-0 Claude Louw 5-0-31-1 Jacques Laubscher 2-0-4-2 Nicky Rheeder 1.1-0-1-1
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