SWD beats Limpopo

OUDTSHOORN NEWS - A brilliant bowling spell by Marcello Piedt (5/21 in 14 overs) during the late afternoon session of their Cricket South Africa Provincial 2nd Division 4-day match secured the Six Gun Grill SWD team an outright 8 wickets victory against Impala Limpopo in Polokwane.

Limpopo, who were requested to bat first, were dismissed for 227 in their first innings after a solid start at 180/2 whereafter André Malan (3/41) and Sean Whitehead (3/57) wrapped up the innings.

In the SWD first innings Yaseen Valli (67) and Leus du Plooy (43) again impressed with the bat and thanks to vital innings with the lower order by Jhedli van Briesies (42) SWD managed to post 245 for a lead of 18 runs.

Piedt was brilliant in his spell and broke the back of the home team batting line-up as they were 35/6 at stumps in the second day. Impala Limpopo was dismissed for only 69 with Malan (3/32) contributing valuable support to Piedt.

SWD responded with 52/2 to secure a vital victory.

With this important victory, SWD remain in the run to win the 4-Day competition but Jean du Plessis and his men will need to be victorious in both their last two outings. The Northern Cape Heat (88.66 points from 5 matches) are the log leaders followed by the Tuskers (73.72 points from 4 matches) and SWD (72.22 points from 4 matches). Batting bonus points will also be crucial in the SWD ambitions.

The summarised scorecard is:

Limpopo impalas 1st Innings 227 all out (Thomas Hobson 60, Malcolm Nofal 60,Ludwig Kaestner 34, André Malan 3/41, Sean Whitehead 3/57) 69 all out (Mtabozuko Ngam 30*, Marcello Piedt 5/21, André Malan 3/32)