Extras, brainfarts end Rollers’ run
- Admin
- Mar 17
- 2 min read
If not being able to play spin is a pre-requisite for representing the Proteas, the West Coast Rollers are surely all due a call-up after Sunday’s shambles at Somerset West.
It’s been a surprising season for the Rollers - from almost calling it a day back in October to going into this weekend’s match unbeaten and the batters, rather than the bowlers, often proving decisive.
And that again looked to be the case again at Radloff Park, where the par target looked a mere formality for some time before the above-mentioned brainfarts and spin conundrum.
It all started well enough, with Tom Stapylton-Smith (2/43) and, in particular, Michael van Dewenter (7-4-19-2) proving a handful on a pitch which offered a fair amount of seam and bounce. Getting both Johan and Lloyd on 39 further sprung our step, but we hadn’t counted on Somerset-West’s big trumpcard … extras.
From 66/4 after 16 overs, the hosts finished on 168/8 thanks to an impressive 42 extras, 32 of which were wides. Not our worst, but still ...
Not that the five or so extra overs spent in the field looked to bother the Rollers too much, with Ryan Cooper and Bryan Bowler looking like people who had something to do - in the former’s case, watching Liverpool lose the League Cup final :(.
They raced to 60 after 11 overs but then … spin.
First, home captain Johan (7-1-12-4) had Ryan (31) running past a leggie before bowling Bryan (26) around his legs.
Lloyd then had Peter Muller (1) and Mark Hull (0) out in successive balls, before Johan got Chris van der Merwe (1) and Jacques Labuschagne (2) to take the score from 60/0 to 69/6 in the space of 33 deliveries. A Rollers roll for the ages.
More spin from both ends put a further stranglehold on proceedings, but a 56-run partnership between Neville Cooper (29) and Michael (28) had us well back on track, before another roll ensued. From 125/7 (needing seven per over) to 130 all out … some more Proteas-worthy credentials.
After six wins in a row, this was a particularly hard one to swallow, but some ice cold beers and the odd brandy lubricated just enough to help us forget.
Thanks Johan and Co for a most enjoyable day out, and please send our best to Barry Haynes.