Paarl Cricket Club retained its title as Drakenstein T10 Cricket Champion, after beating Berg River CC by 19 runs in the final at the Parys Cricket Grounds (PCG) on Sunday.
Paarl set a target of 72, to which Berg River could reply with only 52/7 in 10 overs.
In the semi-finals Paarl dismissed Wellington CC, while Berg River impressed by chasing down 108 against Young People’s CC.
This annual competition started a week earlier, with Paarl East, Saron, Drakenstein Edu, Gouda, Mbekweni and an invitation team as other participants.
In the exciting final it was Paarl’s Hlomla Hanabe who steadied the ship after his team was in early trouble. Lindley Hendricks also fought hard against the accurate Berg River bowlers, before Paarl’s strong bowling attack took charge. After an early breakthrough by speedster Grant Chordnum, Paarl’s deadly spin bowling combination saw to it that wickets tumbled at regular intervals. Berg River’s Morne de Vries fought bravely, but was trapped by an LBW delivered by Poggenpoel, so the writing was on the wall.
Poggenpoel was well supported in the spin department by Anele Matya and the Cook brothers, Edrique and Byron.
On Saturday, Paarl hosted Stellenbosch CC at the PCG, where an epic battle can be expected, as the newly promoted visitors will be determined to show their class in the Boland Premier League competition. Paarl II will travel for their clash with Stellenbosch II, while Paarl III meet Drakenstein Edu at the PCG.
