Roodepoort Cricket Club falls agonisingly short

Making the batsman work for every run with disciplined bowling and energetic fielding was never more evident than it was on Saturday, 17 November. Roodepoort Cricket Club were made to rue missed chances as they fell short of their target by a single run.

Randburg Cricket Club came out to bat first and scored consistently at just over five runs an over to set a competitive 186/6 in their 35 overs. Roodepoort’s bowlers each chipped in where they could with Deon Brits and David Olivier being the best of the bunch. Brits took 3/37 in his seven overs and Olivier contributed by conceding an economical three runs per over finishing with 2/15 from five overs.

Chasing 187, Roodepoort’s batting line-up kept pace with the asked for run-rate all way. A hundred-run partnership between JP Brewis and Renier Louw set Roodepoort up for a strong finish going into the final overs. A persistent Randburg bowling attack slowly chipped away though and the 74 from Brewis and 42 from Louw were just not enough to get over the line.

Roodepoort would get to the 35th and final over with victory within touching distance. Cruelly, they would lose their final wicket just one run short, to finish their innings all out for 185. Despite the agonising defeat, Captain David Olivier was in good spirits. “It was an absolute cracker of a game but the loss was heartbreaking for me and the guys. That’s what we are about, losing and winning as a cricket family” said Olivier while congratulating his opponents for a game played in good spirit.

Roodepoort Cricket Club has been on a steady march through the ranks of club cricket. Several promotions in recent years now see them playing at an elite level, and with the season in its early stages, the community can brace itself for breathtaking cricket action.