There are currently only two clubs in Makhanda (Grahamstown) who competed in the Grahamstown Cricket Board (GCB) First League: – Willows Cricket Clubs, and; – Makana Sona The rest of the clubs in the GCB lay outside town, while the Rhodes Clubs (Rhodes & Shrews) are also competing in the First and Second leagues respectively. Willows Cricket Club Established in 1989, Willows is the currently the oldest club in Makhanda in the GCB First league. The Club has a very rich history and heritage. They are an all-inclusive club that consists mostly of young and unemployed, talented and skilful cricket…
Author: Chesley Daniels
The Eastern Province Rural Cricket Side took a step closer in qualifying for the Annual Cricket South Africa Rural Week, that will take place in Makhanda (Grahamstown) from 20-25 February 2019. EP convincingly defeated Kei by 86 runs in their second last CSA Rural South Section encounter in Mthatha on Saturday 12 January. EP is currently on 12 league points after log leaders, Boland, who are on 16 points. EP will play their last game against EP Midlands on 26 January 2019 in Grahamstown. EP won the toss and decided to bat first in hot weather conditions. After a shaky…
The Grahamstown Cricket Board (GCB) returned over the past weekend, for the continuation of the 2018/2019 season. All of the teams were in action on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 January. Sidbury vs Willows Willows Cricket Team let their chances slip through their fingers against a defiant Sidbury side on Sunday 13 January in Sidbury, losing by 54 runs. Sidbury batted first and did well to manage 217/8 in their allotted 50 overs. They recovered well after finding themselves at 122/6 at a stage. All rounder, Carl Van Niekerk did extremely well in very difficult batting conditions and scored an…
The Sidbury and Cuylerville First teams ended the Grahamstown Cricket Board’s (GCB) First League on a high note, with both teams recorded impressive bonus point wins in their respective fixtures against Manley Flats and Willows. The GCB will take a break and will resume in January 2019. Willows vs Cuylerville Cuylerville took revenge over Willows after they lost in the first round at Shaw Park. On Saturday 8 December at the St Aidens field, Cuylervillle came out on tops as the better team on the day, with a convincing 122-run bonus point win. Cuylerville batted first and posted a mammoth 351/6…
The captain and star batsman of Salem Second team, Lorrimer Pittaway, was in devastation mode with the bat against Kenton on Saturday 1 December. He helped his team trounce arch rivals Kenton by a bonus point 470-run win, in their GCB Derby Encounter. There were also other fine centuries over the past weekend by Chris Gleaves (131 (Manleys Flats 2nds)), Chris Fredericks (137 (Southwell 2nds)), Patrick Buthi (115 (Salem 2nds)) and Paul Winsbury (101* (Salem 2nds)). Pittaway scored an unbeaten 206 runs not out, which was also his highest total in the league. He was in sublime form with the…
Poor batting and costly mistakes in the field cost the Eastern Province Rural Cricket Team against a spirited Boland side in Worcester on Saturday 1 December. EP went down by a crushing 157 runs in their Cricket South Africa Rural South Section fixture. EP have now won two and lost two and are still within a very good chance to end in the top 5 of their section in order to qualify for the CSA Rural Week in Makhanda (Grahamstown) in February 2019. Five of each section (South & North) will to qualify for the Week that will consist of…
Captain and all rounder of Eastern Province Rural Cricket Team, Grant Stone led from the front in his side’s 67-run win over Border Aloes at Manleys Flats on Saturday 18 November. This was the second win for EP in their Cricket South Africa Rural Competition, South Section. Stone produced a Man of the Match all round performance to steer his side to a much needed win. The left hand opening batsman scored his first century (119 runs) for EP and later took two crucial wickets in the Border innings. Border won the toss and sent EP in to bat. It was…
Port Alfred’s First Cricket Club pulled off an upset on Sunday 18 November with a narrow two wicket victory over Willows. This Grahamstown Cricket Board’s (GCB) First league fixture took place at the Port Alfred Country Club. Willows batted first on a very tricky and uneven pitch, which saw the Port Alfred bowlers taking full advantage of the conditions. Willows found themselves deep in trouble with 25/6, with the uneven pitch causing them all sorts of trouble. Credit should also go to the home side’s bowlers who put the ball in the right areas and bowled good line and lengths.…
Station Hill once again claimed bragging rights in the Grahamstown Cricket Board (GCB) Second League, with a dominant 158 run bonus point win over Port Alfred Seconds in their GCB “Kowie Derby” encounter. The match took place in Port Alfred on Saturday 3 November. Station Hill, who are the current Second League defending champs, were in total control of the game in all departments. Hill batted first and set up a massive 242 runs. It was the opening batsman Franklin Jacobs who destroyed the bowlers, batting aggressively from the outset. He was top scorer with a hurricane 89 runs. Jacobs was…
The Grahamstown Cricket Board (GCB) First and Second leagues continued over the weekend of 19-21 October. Southwell’s captain and opening batsman, James Stirk recorded his third consecutive century in the First league, while Marquin Loutz scored 107 runs for Willows. Salem vs Willows Willows Cricket Club continued its unbeaten run with a bonus point 62 run win over Salem. Willows also moved to the top of the GCB first league, overtaking Salem who held that top spot since the start of the season. Willows batted first and posted a defendable 250 all out. Willows looked set to post 300 but…