The Paarl Cricket Club suffered a disappointing defeat at the hands of Robertson Cricket Club in Boland’s Premier League competition last Saturday, going down by 5 wickets.
This does not bode well for their double header at the Paarl Cricket Grounds this coming weekend, when they are involved in the local derby against Paarl East (Saturday) and Maties (Sunday).
Coach Manfred de Kock is sure to call in reinforcements, as his team is at the crossroads.
Paarl was sent in to bat and laboured to 100/4 in the 41st over, with most of the top-order batsmen failing to cope with a nagging attack by the home team’s Luwayden Siegelaar (8-1-30-3), Sachin Constable (8-1-28-3), Jupiter Hopp (10-1-31-1), Aubrey Philander (7-1-33-1) and particularly Warwick Abrahim (10-3-17-0).
It was only Paarl’s leading run maker, Akeem Minnaar (74 in 114 balls, 6×4, 1×6), who stopped the rot, and his 4th wicket partnership with Aqeeb Douman (17), was the best of Paarl’s innings, which closed on 164/8 after some aggression was shown in the last 9 overs.
Robertson was in early trouble against the pace of Liam Muller (7-0-22-3), and on 14/3, desperately needed a good partnership. On 38/5, Philander (65 n.o, 5×4, 3×6) joined Abrahim (67 n.o, 7×4, 1×6), for a match winning, unbeaten 6th wicket partnership of 130, to clinch victory for the home team.
Paarl’s Herschelle Poggenpoel (4-1-21-2) gave a much improved performance with ball, but it was paceman Taigh Schoor (10-4-13-0) who finished with particularly impressive figures.
Paarl II maintained their good form with a seven wicket victory against Robertson II at the PCG, after dismissing the visitors for 101. This was thanks to a good allround performance from Grant Chordnum (10-0-32-3), Dillon Martin (9-0-28-4), Cullen Heugh (8-0-22-2) and Kyle Solomon (10-0-30-1).
Opening batsmen Dane Schoor (33) and Leswin Titus (29) laid a solid foundation up front with a 64-run partnership, to secure victory for the home team.
