In yet another tense finish to a league game, Somerset West Cricket Club (SWCC) recorded a home victory over Yorkshire CC in the Western Province First Division B at Radloff Park’s Alan Olsen Oval on Saturday (26 November).
After winning the toss and opting to take first strike, the home team struggled to get going, lost wickets at regular intervals and were in deep trouble at 37/3.
Jan Rademan (20) and Wiehann Meyer (29) brought some stability to the innings, but after both departed it was the never-say-die 71-run partnership between Jan Punt (53) and wicketkeeper George Hlazo (35) that put SWCC firmly back in control of the encounter.
The hosts were eventually bowled out for a respectable total of 214 after 49 overs.
At the change of innings it was SWCC who drew first blood and had the visitors reeling at 4/2.
The bowling pair of Meyer and Chris Jurgens started well but with a very strong south-easter blowing, runs were easy to come by.
Despite some tight bowling Yorkshire CC composed themselves and the middle order scored at a gradual pace, eating away at the target with every passing over.
SWCC began to turn the screws and soon the pressure paid off, with Meyer and Rademan starring with the ball, taking five wickets between them.
The outfield players contributed as well, with quick hands resulted in two run-outs for Yorkshire CC.
It was down to the last two balls of the innings in which the visitors needed six runs to win, but they lost their last wicket to hand SWCC the win.
This coming weekend marks the final stretch of the first half of the season, with the SWCC first team set to host Kensington CC, the second team travelling to Cravenby CC, the thirds at home to Pollsmoor CC, the fourths away to Kuils River CC and the fifths away to HHCC.
