THE Pinetown Cricket Club 1st XI continued its winnings ways on Sunday when they beat the Dawn Heights unit from Stanger by 8 wickets, keeping their 2013/14 Castle Lager Challenge League Stream 1 title hopes alive.
With the cobwebs having piled up somewhat recently due to a bye due to Diwali and a rained out clash with Amanzimtoti Cricket Club (ACC) the week before that, Pinetown’s outfit dusted themselves off and, after losing the toss and asked to bowl first, made light work of their North Coast rival batsmen.
A frenzy of early wickets from both of Pinetown’s left arm opening bowlers, Andrew Dyer (3/21) and Kyle Gilham (3/16), put Dawn Heights under immense pressure, from mid-order run out, a brace from Pinetown skipper and off-spinner Tim Spence, saw the visitors all out for 96 at the end of the innings.
Pinetown’s opening batsmen, KZN U17 star Bruce Kerr (5) and Grant Olivier (9), dispatched Dawn Heights’ opening bowlers for a few boundaries in the opening few balls of the innings. But both fell in quick succession.
With the arrival of U19 ace, Kyle Stirling, and Bruce Kruger at the crease, any glimmer of hope was soon dashed as the pair launched into full attack as they charged towards the total.
While Stirling contributed a handy 25 not out, it was Kruger that stole the limelight and set the bowlers to all parts of the ground with relative ease.
Needing just three runs to win, and a deserved maiden half century of the season very much in sight, Kruger made two runs before lambasting it through the covers for four to take his side to 100/2. This also left him on 50 not out as Pinetown wrapped up proceedings in the thirteenth over.
Pinetown’s 1sts will now head south this coming Sunday where they will take on the South Coast’s Umzinto team.
