The Rollers made it two wins from as many games after an emphatic 109-run victory against Noordhoek on Sunday.
On a windswept day, slow outfield, a fast, bouncy pitch and many nursing hangovers from the night before at Tim Sant’s house, we managed 185/9 in our 35 overs before rolling the home side for just 76.
Stand-in captain Ryan Cooper elected to bat after winning the toss, and initially it looked as though the decision could come back to bite us against some hostile bowling with the new ball.
Michael van Dewenter took the first ball of the day on the shoulder, with Ryan getting hit on the hand and a few more flying past the grill.
But after Big Mike was caught off a leading edge for seven, Ryan and Louis Pretorius steadied the ship before the former skied one and was caught for 24.
But Louis found a willing partner in Cornell Keulder and together they added just short of 50 before Louis was caught for 28.
Another good partnership followed as Francois Geldenhuys and Cornell added 67 for the fourth wicket, with the latter especially brutal on the bowling in smashing a maiden 50 for the Rollers, a knock which included two massive sixes – one which went straight through the rugby posts.
But Cornell’s demise, followed shortly afterwards by Francois getting run-out for a flawless 30, brought about the now customary ‘roll’, with the Rollers losing six wickets for 35 runs to finish on 185/9.
The task was never going to be easy for the home side against the likes of Andrew Young and Cornell and, after a slow and steady start, ‘Bruce Banner’ picked up two quick wickets before finishing with figures of 2/9 in seven overs.
Ryan (2/26) continued his purple patch with the next two wickets, before Michael chipped in with his first two wickets for the Rollers and Tim orchestrated a brilliant run-out.
Jacques Laubscher bowled with great control to get himself two wickets before George Kamfer – who took two great catches but could not pick a ball up cleanly all day – came on to turn his arm over. After some fiery, Dennis Lillee-like deliveries which thudded into Francois’ gloves, he finally got the last wicket, bowled emphatically with the stumps all over the place.
So a comprehensive win and our goal to go undefeated this season still very much alive after thanks to a great all-round performance.
A good time was had afterwards as attention turned to the next match – against Spin Doctors on November 3…
BATTING
Michael van Dewenter 7 Ryan Cooper 24 (1×6, 1×4) Louis Pretorius 28 (5×4) Cornell Keulder 52 (2×6, 4×4) Francois Geldenhuys 30 (3×4) George Kamfer 13* (1×4) Tim Sant 8 (1×4) Bernie Nel 2 Brendan Gardener 0 Jacques Laubscher 2*
Extras: 21 TOTAL: 185/9
BOWLING
Andrew Young 7-2-9-2 Cornell Keulder 4-0-11-0 Ryan Cooper 7-1-26-2 Jacques Laubscher 4-1-12-2 Michael van Dewenter 3-0-10-2 George Kamfer 2-1-1-1 Tim Sant 1-0-5-0