By Chesley Daniels
Cuylerville 1st XI and Salem 1st XI are the Grahamstown Cricket Board (GCB) Bathurst 1st and Central Albany 1st League winners for the 2024/2025 season respectively.
Cuylerville 1st recorded a comprehensive 4-wicket bonus point win over Willows at Shaw Park on Saturday, while Southwell 1st also clinched a nail-biting 7-run win over Salem at Southwell on Saturday.
Station Hill continued their good form in the 2nd league as they hammered Tiger Titans by bonus point 9-wicket win in Port Alfred. Salem 2nd XI were also involved in a closely contested encounter against Southwell and emerged as 2-wicket winners.
Cuylerville 2nd dominated Manley Flats in their own backyard at the Flats with a clinical 9-wicket bonus point win.
There were also notable performances with bat and ball: Buster Brotherton 90, Jamie Renton 101*, Tiaan Joubert 77, Neil van der Linde 76*, Dave Duncan 55.
Corne Labuschagne 6/27, Lyndon Coltman 5/37, Colin Fletcher 5/32, Sipho Saki 4/12, Kyle Geldenhuys 4/16.
Summarised scores:
GCB 1ST
Southwell vs Salem
1. Southwell 235/8 (50)
* Josh Van Rensburg 64, Kyle Van Niekerk 54, James Stirk 31, Chris Ford 16*
* Buster Brotherton 3/25 (10), Jonty Van Der Meulen 2/46 (8), Bryn Wakeford 1/40 (10), Brad Wilmot 1/30 (3)
2. Salem 228/8 (50)
* Buster Brotherton 90, Brad Wilmot 38*, Simon Amm 31, Jonty Van Der Meulen 23
* Guy Bladen 3/50 (9), Adrian Reed 2/53 (8), Chris Ford 2/29 (7), Murray Hobson 1/25 (6)
Southwell won by 7 runs
Cuylerville vs Willows
1. Willows 152 (39.2)
* Seviano Jasson 47, Romario Fritz, 28, Tando Ngcete 22, Melville Daniels 15
* Kyle Geldenhuys 4/16 (6), Francois Klopper 2/29 (10), Chris Norval 1/31 (5), Jurie Norval 1/8 (4), Jeremy Beyleveld 1/24 (6)
2. Cuylerville 153/6 (26.3)
* David Blenkinsop 41, Kyle Handley 31, Brent Emslie 26, Jurie Norval 18
* Ruwayne Brooks 3/22 (4.3), Anele Matha 2/39 (5), Melville Daniels 1/8 (3)
Cuylerville won by 4 wickets + bonus point
GCB 2ND LEAGUE
Station Hill vs Tiger Titans
1. Tiger Titans 60
* Njoka 16, Black 10
* Lyndon Coltman 5/37 (10), Sipho Saki 4/12 (6.1), Cody Jones 1/12 (3)
2. Station Hill 62/1 (4.5)
* Marvin Groep 27*, Keenan Arends 16
* Ohani 1/17 (2)
Statiion Hill won by 9 wickets + bonus point
Salem vs Southwell
1. Southwell 184 (47)
* Tiaan Joubert 77, Chris Fridericks 30
* Corne Labuschagne 6/27 (6.3), Mike Mattison 2/31 (10), Kevin Zimmerman 1/37 (6)
2. Salem 185/8 (47.3)
* Riaan Labuschagne 33*, Mike Van Staden 26, Mike Mattison 22, Owen Weir 23, Rob Van DER Merwe 19
* James Cameron 2/18, Ross Daly 2/33
Salem won by 2 wickets
Manley Flats vs Cuylerville
1. Manleys 202
* Dave Duncan 55, Anton Ferreira 26, Liam Banks 23, Jo Balmer 18,
* Colin Fletcher 5/32 (10), Thomas Knight 3/32 (10), Ethan Beyleveld 2/25 (7)
2. Cuylerville
* Jamie Renton 101*, Neil Van der Linde 76*
* Jody Eaton 2/54 (10)
Cuylerville won by 8 wickets + bonus point