Old Parks beats Florida Cricket Club in Premiere League match

BORDEAUX – Old Parks beats Florida Cricket Club by four wickets and looks at taking second or third place in the Premier B League.

February 19, 2018

Nicholas Zaal 1 minute read

Deen Kimmie, captain of Florida, fails to score a run as Allan Dudgeon of Old Parks fields a ball off his own bowling. Photo: Nicholas Zaal

Old Parktonian Sports Club showed the new boys from the West Rand, Florida Cricket Club how it is done in a thrilling Premier B League game on 11 February.

While the 50-over match was close which Old Parks won by four wickets in the 48th over, Old Parks’ experience and self-belief throughout the tough situations took them over the finish line on their home ground.

Florida, playing in their first season in the league and being younger than other clubs’ players, with an average player age of 17, won the toss and batted first on the warm Sunday morning.

But they could only score 190 all out in the 49th over, with Damian Plotini top scoring with 63.

Damian Plotini top scores for Florida with 63 during their Premier B League game. Photo: Nicholas Zaal

Deen Kimmie, the captain of Florida, keeps the scoreboard ticking for the visitors in their Premier B League game. Photo: Nicholas Zaal

Old Parks bowlers, Ricky Brules (3/37) and Liam Oosthuizen (3/47) had the best bowling figures, while spinners Allan Dudgeon and Zander Coetzer only gave away 46 runs between them in their 20 overs, and took a wicket each.

In reply, Old Parks opted to bat as slowly as their opponents, albeit more carefully.

The result was a loss of fewer wickets and a win, with Brad Parry scoring 43 not out, and Jethro Mawudzi scoring 43.

“It was a fair game and Florida’s score was fair, although they could have scored more if they were faster,” said Old Parks cricket section chairperson, Dough Neilson.

Florida’s chairperson, Zaid Kimmie agreed that the pitch was good and warranted more runs from the visitors.

Florida’s captain, Deen Kimmie plays a ball onto the legside. Photo: Nicholas Zaal

Zander Coetzer of Old Parks finishes with 1/25 in his 10 overs. Photo: Nicholas Zaal

“My top four scored 128 runs between them so the lower order let us down. It is something that has been happening all season,” he lamented.

Kimmie believes his side should have set a target of about 240 while Neilson believes his own bowlers could have been tighter and could have maybe restricted Florida to about 140.

Nevertheless, the win takes the Bordeaux side to fourth in the league out of 12 teams, after game 16 of 22.