The Rollers picked up their second successive victory this season following a 49-run win against MLC at Durbanville on Sunday.
Despite some overnight rain, we decided to bat first and got off to a solid – if slightly slow – start, with debutant Riaan Liebenberg and Stuart Bruce taking the score to 19 before the former was trapped in front for 8.
It started a precession of wickets as Stuart (11), Michael van Dewenter (0) and Neville Cooper (3) departed in the space of 16 runs – Neville bizarrely gloving a full-toss to mid-wicket.
Ryan Cooper and Claude Louw took the score to 75 by drinks, but Claude (6) swept his way into trouble again with the first ball after the interval.
Ryan got to 50 before hitting a half-tracker (and that’s being generous) from the leg-spinner straight up, and the departures of Jacques Laubscher (6) and Hannes Carlson (3) left the Rollers in trouble at 128/8 in the 30th over.
But such is the beauty of our batting Lotto system that you never know what’s coming next, and the last five overs effectively decided the game.
Cornell Keulder (fresh off an unbeaten and brisk half-century against Scorpions) took a liking to the MLC bowling, smashing then to all parts to finish 60 not out.
Not to be outdone, Andrew ‘Don’ Young bludgeoned an unbeaten 40 off not too many as the partnership yielded an astonishing 80 off 30 balls.
So a tough victory target of 208 for the hosts, and the start was hardly ideal as Mike Brown was caught and bowled by Michael (2/13) for 11, before ‘Os’ got a second-ball LBW.
Werner scored precisely zero as Claude (1/20) cleaned him up, but Dean was not about to roll over and take it from behind. He launched an impressive counter-attack as Glen … held fort I guess… at the other end.
Glen was eventually bowled by Ryan (2/18) for 27 off 29 overs, but Dean got to his 100 with an over to spare thanks to some generous bowling from Neville (1-0-20-0).
So a comfortable win for the Rollers, and fines afterwards ended pretty even. Thanks for the great hospitality from Mike, Sheldon and the rest of the MLC guys – great day out as always.
BATTING
Riaan Liebenberg 8 Stuart Bruce 11 Ryan Cooper 52 Michael van Dewenter 0 Neville Cooper 3 Claude Louw 6 Cornell Keulder 60* Jacques Laubscher 6 Hannes Carlson 3 Andrew Young 40*
Extras: 25 TOTAL: 207/8
BOWLING
Claude Louw 7-0-20-1 Micheal van Dewenter 6-0-13-2 Jakes Oberholzer 4-0-18-0 Cornell Keulder 4-0-15-0 Jacques Laubscher 4-0-22-0 Hannes Carlson 3-0-14-0 Andrew Young 4-0-27-1 Ryan Cooper 2-0-18-2 Neville Cooper 1-0-20-0