The Rollers ended 2015 on a high this past Sunday with a 61-run victory against Coastal Strikers at Brackenfell.
This fixture has traditionally been a tight one, with last year’s game ending in a last-ball tie, but there were to be no such heart palpitations this time around.
Having won the toss, we took first strike on a wicket with some inconsistent bounce, but it mattered little as Ryan Cooper and Cornell Keulder got us off to a flyer.
The pair put on 75 for the first wicket – aided by a fair few leg-side wides – before Jarvis bowled Cornell for a brisk 26.
After the departure of Hennie de Villiers for 9, Claude Louw joined Ryan at the crease and they put on 40 for the third wicket before the latter was caught behind for 62.
Neville Cooper strode to the crease and the two set about the bowling, with Nev hitting a quick 27 and Claude 28, but their wickets meant a slight reprieve for the Strikers, who managed to restrict us to 197/6 when 230 looked likely at one stage.
That target looked in danger when Paul Moore took a liking to Cornell in the first over, hitting him for three boundaries through the cover region.
However, Claude (1/17) bowled Paul not too long afterwards, before Cornell (1/19) and Jacques Laubscher (2/27) got among the wickets to leave the Strikers reeling.
Bjorn and Jaco showed some resistance, with the former hitting a huge six into the wind, but Michael van Dewenter (1/23), Ryan (2/6) and Darren MacGurk (2/14) got the wickets that effectively ended any hopes of a shock victory.
Jarvis and Arrie – batting with one glove after after being struck on the hand while bowling – decided to show some balls and lessen the time in the bar with a brave ninth-wicket stand which forced the Rollers to bowl their full 35 overs, but time in the bar we did spend, and thanks again to Riaan and his team for another memorable and enjoyable Sunday at Brackenfell.
Batting Ryan Cooper 62 (6×4) Cornell Keulder 26 (4×4) Hennie de Villiers 9 Claude Louw 28 (1×6, 3×4) Neville Cooper 27 (3×4) Michael van Dewenter 7 Andre de la Harpe 7* Ruan de Jongh 1*
Extras 30 TOTAL: 197/6
Bowling Cornell Keulder 7-1-19-1 Claude Louw 5-0-17-1 Jacques Laubscher 6-0-27-2 Michael van Dewenter 5-0-23-1 Ryan Cooper 3-1-6-2 Darren MacGurk 4-0-14-2 Ruan de Jongh 4-0-11-0 George Kamfer 1-0-9-0
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