The Rollers and Scorpions played out a thriller at Distell on Saturday, with the hosts taking the spoils in the last over with only one wicket remaining.
With the exception of last year, matches between the two sides have traditionally been tight affairs, with this one arguably the closest of the lot.
The Rollers took first strike on a flat deck and lightning quick outfield, but lost Andrew Young (5) early on. The Cooper brothers took the score to 53 before Neville ran himself out for 11, and Tom Stapylton-Smith (4) didn’t last too long.
James Lamprecht came in and played three glorious strokes for 10 before being bowled off the fourth as the Rollers were left reeling at 74/4 after 16 overs. Hannes Moore joined Ryan and took the score to 115 before he was bowled for 12, while Johann Roux was run out for 2.
Cornell Keulder (11) came and went, before Simon Drennan (14*) and Ryan put on a brisk 38 for the seventh wicket, with the latter bringing up his 100 in the final over as the visitors finished on a respectable 189/7 after 35 overs.
Our opening bowlers got us off to a great start, with Tom (7-1-26-2) picking up an early wicket, and Cornell (7-0-21-0) massively unlucky as three catches went down off his bowling.
Scorpions were struggling at 30/1 after 10, but Johan Kloppers played a great counter-attacking innings, smashing us to all parts. He was eventually trapped LBW for 72 by Nicky Rheeder - playing his first game for the Rollers in many years - who bowled brilliantly for his 3/33.
From there the game swung from one side to the other as every over went by, with Andrew Young’s (2/30) quick off-spin proving more than a handful.
He bowled the last over as Scorpions needed five runs with one wicket remaining, and was desperately unlucky to see a match-winning catch dropped off the second ball of the over, and then another fall just short of a fielder as the Rollers once again plucked defeat from the jaws of victory.
Either way, it was another great way to spend an afternoon at a fantastic venue and against a great bunch of guys. To Riaan, Hayden and the rest, thanks for a brilliant day out, and best of luck with the rest of the season.
SCORECARD
Batting
Andrew Young 5
Ryan Cooper 109* (1x6, 14x4)
Neville Cooper 11 (2x4)
Tom Stapylton-Smith 4 (1x4)
James Lamprecht 10 (2x4)
Hannes Moore 12 (1x4)
Johann Roux 2
Cornell Keulder 11 (1x4)
Simon Drennan 14* (2x4)
TOTAL: 189/7 (35 overs)
Bowling
Cornell Keulder 7-0-21-0
Tom Stapylton-Smith 7-1-26-2
Nicky Rheeder 7-0-33-3
Mark Haselau 3-0-33-0
James Lamprecht 5-0-47-0
Andrew Young 5.4-0-30-2