Cavaliers collapse
After looking poised to cruise home to victory in their latest outing in the SWD Premier League against Harlequins, Knysna Cavaliers lost their final five wickets for only 26 runs to stumble to a six-run loss.
Harlequins and Cavaliers faced off at Loerie Park on Saturday 7 December, after the game was moved to Knysna due to the drought in the Karoo rendering Harlequins unable to prepare a field. Nonetheless, the morning's weather on matchday promised a long day of cricket ahead, and the sides simply had to play along.
Harlequins won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch which had been newly prepared by ground staff for the game. Harlequins' openers got off to a positive start, reaching 35 within the first six overs without losing a wicket. Despite some sloppy fielding in the opening exchanges resulting in three dropped catches, Cavaliers managed to claim the first wicket through a run-out, with AB van der Walt the fielder behind the breakthrough. Van der Walt would continue to be Cavaliers' magic man, claiming two wickets with ball in hand, courtesy of caught-and-bowled and LBW dismissals.
Cavaliers would go on to put on a typically impressive bowling performance, with veteran spinner Francois Bonthuys once again the pick of the bowlers as he claimed four wickets for only 19 runs in his 10 overs, falling one wicket short of a five-for. Harlequins would be bowled out for only 123, with Adrian Booysen top-scoring with 32, leaving Cavaliers a low target of 124 for victory.
Cavaliers' run chase seemed to have started off well with Bonthuys opening the batting with Thabo Dywili, but Bonthuys would soon fall with the side on 23. Dywili would push on with Van der Walt, before the latter was dismissed as Harlequins claimed the key wicket of Todd Walker shortly thereafter. Dywili would top-score for Cavaliers with 31, before he was dismissed with Cavaliers on 71, and the next batsman dismissed the first ball leaving Cavaliers reeling slightly at 71-5, still needing 56 to win.
Despite some stability provided by Irvin Campher and captain JP Ellis, Campher was caught out with Cavaliers on 91, with Cavaliers undoubtedly believing they could still bring home the win. A significant collapse would follow however, as including Campher's dismissal, Cavaliers' final five wickets fell for only 26 runs. This handed Harlequins a nail-biting 6-run victory, and Mario Jansen the pick of their bowlers with three wickets for 30 runs in his 10 overs.