It’s been written many times before, and Sunday’s game against Gardens just reiterates it: the Rollers are nothing if not exciting!
After a brilliant bowling and fielding performance, reaching the victory target of 96 seemed a mere formality. Four overs into the chase though, and our worst ever defeat looked on the cards.
But more of that later…
Having lost the toss on a beautiful day in Cape Town, the Rollers were off to a fantastic start.
Andrew Young got a wicket in his first over en route to figures of 7-1-21-2, while Ryan Cooper took two in as many overs for his 5-0-14-2. That, coupled with a run out, left the hosts staggering at 29/5 in the 11th over.
Michael van Dewenter bowled a great spell over of 5-1-15-1 before some lusty blows from Chris Nieuwoudt, combined with some ‘interesting’ bowling from Tim Sant, got the hosts to some sort of respectability.
Still, Tim eventually picked up three wickets – two of which he tells us, were with the ‘flipper’. What he might not mention quite so readily is the fact that one of the flippers bounced three times before going through the batsman’s legs and hitting the stumps, while the other almost hit his own foot. But, nevertheless, three wickets in the bank…
Tim did take a good catch of Jacques Laubscher’s bowling to wrap up the innings 95 … hardly threatening.
But, as mentioned earlier, the Rollers are nothing if not entertainers and, in pursuit of the meager total soon found themselves 0/3, and then 2/4. And those two runs came via a bye and a wide.
The victims of the destruction – and all members of the duck-farm – were George Kamfer, Stuart Bruce, Ryan and Bernie Nel.
The two Francois’ – Siebrits and Geldenhuys – steadied the ship to an extent and saw off the new ball the former was bowled for 14.
Step up the skipper…
Neville Cooper joined Francois G and together rebuilt the innings, before launching an all-out assault towards the latter stages of the game. Francois G finished with a very classy 35, while Neville looked like the Neville of years gone by as he smashed anything off line for a brilliant 40.
The unbroken stand of 75 ensured the Rollers knocked off the runs in just 22 overs to win by five wickets.
It was much of the same afterwards as we once again took the drinking crown, winning 8 to five to maintain our dominance over Gardens Old Boys.
BATTING George Kamfer 0 Stuart Bruce 0 Francois Siebrits 14 (2×4) Ryan Cooper 0 Bernie Nel 0 Francois Geldenhuys 35* (5×4) Neville Cooper 40* (1×6, 5×4)
Extras 8 TOTAL: 97/5 (22 overs)
BOWLING Andrew Young 7-1-21-2 Ryan Cooper 5-0-14-2 Michael van Dewenter 5-1-15-1 Tim Sant 4-0-31-3 Bernie Nel 2-1-5-1 Jacques Laubscher 2-0-8-1
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