Rollers off to a flyer

The West Coast Rollers made a near perfect start to the new season on Sunday, beating the Pumas by 129 runs at the Rondebosch Cricket Club.

It’s been a good few months since anyone had lifted a bat or held a cricket ball, but at a blustery Terry Eksteen Oval, it all clicked into place rather nicely.

Taking first strike on a two-paced wicket, the Rollers got off to a flyer thanks to Rohan van der Mescht and Ryan Cooper, who put on 119 for the first wicket in under 20 overs, helped in some part to some friendly ‘catching’.

Rohan (62 off 57 deliveries) was brutal on anything close to his legs and looked destined for a second Rollers hundred before Mike Dreyden bucked the trend and took a blinder on the long-on boundary.

Ryan was joined by brother Neville, who clearly benefitted from his time with the bowling machine the day before, and together they put on 80 for the second wicket before the younger Cooper retired on 100, which came off 85 balls.

Neville (36 off 34) was caught and bowled by the very impressive Martin Roux, but Jarryd van Wyk (26 off 14) and Michael van Dewenter (21 off 16) ensured the runs kept flowing as the Rollers posted an imposing 265/5.

The Pumas needed a strong start, but they ran into the newly-wed and slightly lighter Big Mike, who ran through the top order in a spell of 4-0-12-3. Tom Stapylton-Smith (1/19) got Justin Beck 2000 caught behind, and when Ruan de Jongh (2/29) picked up both Garth le Roux and Gerhard de Kock to leave the hosts on 69/6, it seemed an early afternoon was on the cards.

But we hadn’t banked on Martin’s moustache and debutant Regan van der Westhuizen’s biceps, and the two of them got stuck into the bowling good and proper, with the former in particular hitting some monstrous sixes in a quickfire partnership of 63.

But just as we had got ahead of ourselves, they too failed to account for the guile and experience of Hannes Carlson, playing his first game in what felt like years. After two expensive overs, he changed ends and got back into the swing of things to take the last four wickets for 29 runs, thanks in no small part to some good catching from Hannes Moore and brilliant keeping from Bryan Bowler.

Cassie’s four wickets also saw him become just the second Roller to take 150 wickets, and now puts him joint top of the list with Cornell Keulder.

Thanks again to Garth, Grant and the rest of the Pumas for an enjoyable day out!

Rollers vs Pumas - October 2025.pdf

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