The Rollers extended their winning run to three games this Sunday against Somerset West – but it looked massively unlikely just 10 overs into the chase.
With captain Hannes Carlson winning his fourth consecutive toss this season, we opted to bowl on a pitch that had been uncovered during the rains on Saturday.
It looked a good decision initially as Andrew Young (1/36) and Claude Louw (0/25) extracted some good movement and bounce but, after the early departure of Bobby (15), the hosts knuckled down and took the score to 73/1.
Michael van Dewenter, who had dropped a sitter earlier in the game, redeemed himself with the crucial wicket of Jacques (41) – and that sparked a massive collapsed.
Big Mike eventually finished with great figures of 7-1-19-3, before the spin twins of Jacques Laubscher (2/27) and Ryan Cooper (4/13) wrapped up the tail to dismiss Somerset West for 121 in the 31st over.
So not a massive target, but then the Rollers had been known to cock up small chases. Even then, no-one could have predicted the disaster than ensued.
Debutant Andre de la Harpe got a fifth-ball duck, George Kamfer (3) went shortly afterwards and another debutant, Andrew Harmsworth (0), lasted three balls.
Riaan Liebenberg (2) was caught at mid-wicket soon after (off a bump-ball apparently …) before Neville Cooper (13) left a beaut from Lloyd Simpson (3/17).
And when Casper (14) and Big Mike (6) fell in quick succession the Rollers were in a whole heap of shit at 39/7.
However, such is the beauty of our batting Lotto system that two form batsmen in Andrew Young and Ryan Cooper came in at 8 and 9 and brought some calm to proceedings.
They chipped away at the target and put on an unbeaten 83 for the seventh wicket to ensure the victory, with Andrew ending on 30 and Ryan on 47.
It’s a big weekend coming up, with the Bowls Day on Saturday and then Claremont Gents on Sunday. Pack your livers …
Batting
Andre de la Harpe 0 George Kamfer 3 Neville Cooper 13 (3×4) Andrew Harmsworth 0 Riaan Gerber 2 Hannes Carlson 14 (3×4) Michael van Dewenter 6 Andrew Young 30* (1×6, 3×4) Ryan Cooper 47* (6×4)
Extras: 4 TOTAL: 122/7 (29.1 overs)
Bowling
Andrew Young 6-0-36-1 (6 wides) Claude Louw 7-1-25-0 Michael van Dewenter 7-1-19-3 Jacques Laubscher 7-0-27-2 Ryan Cooper 4-0-13-4