PINETOWN Cricket Club’s first XI suffered a heartbreaking loss to Hollywoodbets Crusaders on Sunday, 15 November as the rain prevented them from clinching a memorable victory in a low-scoring Castle Premier League affair at Crusaders.
Losing the toss and being asked to bat first, Pinetown was soon in trouble as the players lost early wickets before Crusaders’ Ruben Hattingh claimed four middle-order wickets to rip the heart out of the visitors’ batting line-up.
Chip-ins from Pinetown’s captain, Tim Spence (18), Jeyatho Bezuidenhout (15) and Sunfoil Dolphins all-rounder, Robbie Frylinck (14), were all the Highway unit could muster as they were bowled out for 85.
Desperate to rectify their poor display with the bat, Pinetown’s new-ball bowling pair of Frylinck (3/18) and Kyle Buckthorp (4/19) put on a masterful display in the session before lunch to have Crusaders 39/6 at the break.
Two more quick wickets after lunch reduced Crusaders to 54/8 and Pinetown’s men looked to close in on what would be an unforgettable triumph. With the contest on a knife’s edge, rain denied Pinetown the opportunity to challenge for the final two wickets and handed Crusaders victory by way of their superior run rate.
The bad weather meant Pinetown’s second and third sides’ clashes with Chatsworth United and Newlands E/K respectively were abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Pinetown’s first XI will now look to front up to Chatsworth Sporting at Lahee Park on Sunday, 22 November while the seconds take on Delta at Forest Hills and the thirds square off against Hillary-Malvern at Malvern Park.
