Brilliant team effort makes it three wins in a row for SWD

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Another brilliant team effort was the key reason for Six Gun Grill SWD's third consecutive victory in the Cricket South Africa Division 2 One-Day competition.

Jean du Plessis and his troops were clinical as they recorded the important five-wicket bonus point win against the Mpumlanga Rhinos at White River on Wednesday, and in the process climbed to the second position (14 points after five matches) on the log.

This victory put them in a favourable position to advance to the finals on 8 April.

The Hollywoodbets Tuskers (17 points from four matches) are still in first place.

The Rhinos, who were put into bat, were constantly under pressure from the SWD bowling attack and with their total on 54/5, they were with their backs against the wall. A 51-run partnership for the sixth wicket by Benjamin van Niekerk (62) and Blake Schraader (25) offered some resistance against Renaldo Meyer (3/32 in 8.4 overs), Sintu Majiza (2/68 in 10 overs), Pheko Moletsane (3/35 in 10 overs) and an economical spell by Sean Whitehead (0/26 in 10 overs).

Thanks to Bamanye Xenxe (31 from 16 balls), the home side reached 192 all out after 46.4 overs.

The SWD run chase was built around a 75-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Jhedli van Brieiies (47 from 57 balls; 1x6, 3x4) and an unbeaten half century by Hanno Kotze (54*; 69 balls; 1x6, 5x4).

Yaseen Valli (25 from 26 balls; 5x4), Blade Capell (25 from 17 balls) and Jean du Plessis (27 from 36 balls; 2x4) all made a valuable contribution with the bat as SWD reached the target 198/5 with 82 balls to spare.

SWD's last pool match is on Sunday, 3 April, against the Eastern Cape Iinyathi at Buffalo Park in East London.

Hanno Kotze