SWD stuns big guns in T20 clash

GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT CRICKET NEWS - Six Gun Grill South Western Districts caused a major upset in Pool A of the Cricket South Africa Twenty/20 knock-out competition that was played the past weekend in Kimberley.

Jean du Plessis (22) and his troops stunned one of South African cricket strongholds, Western Province and in the process eliminated the Imperial Lions from the quarter-finals.

In their opening match on Friday, SWD thanks to a fine batting display by homegrown products, du Plessis and Heath Richards (20), showed sublime batting form to guide SWD to a 24-run victory over home team Northern Cape Heat.

Du Plessis laid the foundation in a 113-run partnership with Yaseen Valli for the second wicket, and then Richards smashed 41 off 14 balls to give SWD a target that proved beyond the reach of the home side when SWD posted a highly competitive 192/4 off which 114 of those runs coming in the last 10 overs. SWD restricted the Heat to 168/9 with the bowling honours that went to Hershell America (3/23). On Saturday Valli batted through the innings to enable the Division 2 SWD to upstage the Division 1 Western Province by three wickets with two balls to spare in a nail-biter.

Having restricted Western Province to a below-par total of 130/7 all SWD needed was a couple of good partnerships and some calm heads to get them across the line and that is exactly what the left-handed Valli accomplished. His unbeaten 55 (54 balls, 6 fours and 1 six) was his second half-century in the tournament. America finished with an outstanding 3/22 in 4 overs to become the leading wicket-taker in the tournament.

Herschell America