The young Willows Cricket side pulled off a remarkable win with only nine players against Manley Flats in their Grahamstown Cricket Board (GCB) fixture last weekend. The GCB competitions are still on fire and there was once again some exciting cricket on offer.
Willows went down to Manleys and came home with an impressive 5-wicket win. Willows and Cuylerville are still unbeaten in 2020. What makes the win so special for Willows, is the fact that they travelled with only 9 players and managed to beat Manleys. Manleys batted first and some incredible bowling by Willows, saw them reached 205 (48 overs). Spinner Marquin Tom Loutz was the destroyer-in-chief for Willows with impressive bowling figures of 5/27 (10). His economical spell was crucial for his side and with a 5-for, he went on top of the GCB 1st as the leading wicket taker. All rounder Ruwayne Brooks was equally impressive with the ball, claiming two vital wickets. Bryn Wakeford (59) and Zakes Simanga (33) batted well for Manleys in difficult conditions.
Willows got off to a slow start losing two early wickets. But a crucial partnership between Mohammed Sonday and veteran Melville Daniels was key in their run chase. Sonday (25) and Daniels (56) laid the foundation for the incoming Brooks and captain Seviano Jasson who finished off matters in the end. Brooks ended with a brilliant unbeaten 56* while Jasson also unbeaten with a classy 37*, taking their side over the line. Willows reached 210/5 in 39.3 overs.
“We played with only nine players but restricted them early and kept things tight with good bowling,” said WIllows captain Seviano Jasson. “We got off to a very shaky start but the partnership between Sonday and Daniels was crucial. Brooks and Jasson eventually took the side over the line with good responsible batting. Brooks was the big hero scoring a brilliant 50.”
Log leaders Cuylerville extended their position on top of the GCB 1st log with a very close and exciting win over Salem. The game ended very closely and nerve racking, that saw Cuylerville edged Salem by 5-runs in the end. Salem needed 7 runs off the last over (6 balls) but it was the Man of the Match Brandon Handley who took four wickets in four balls in the last over of the day. He finished with impressive figures of 5/28 and earlier hit yet another superb century (115). Cuylerville scored a huge 282 and bowled Salem out for 277 in a fantastic game of cricket.
Charlie Muir (53) and Steven Gornal (44) also recorded some vital cameos for Cuylerville. John Rennie 3/49 (10) and Ivan Marais 2/26 (9), bowled well for Salem.
Kevin Bennett batted brilliantly in his side’s run chase, scoring a magnificent 121 before losing his wicket in the final over of the game to Handley. Leard King (44) and Simon Amm (38) also contributed with the bat for Salem. Handley and Gornal (2 wickets) were the destroyers for Cuylerville with the ball.
Manleys 2nds beat Tiger Titans to move 8 points clear of Station Hill on the overall GCB 2nd log. Manleys are on 43 (9) and Station Hill in second place with 35 (8 games). Station Hill beat Southwell with a bonus point on Saturday, while Salem 2nds also beat Sidbury with a bonus point.
