Old Ed cricketers draw with Alberton
HOUGHTON - After a week of good rains, the Old Eds Premier League team found the pitch at Alberton “juicy” to say the least, and the outfield reminiscent of the rough at Augusta.
Unfortunately their bowlers lacked line and length, making it possible for Alberton to race to 90/3 by the first drinks break.
Matthew Varner bowled a 3/56 and Old Eds managed to pull the game back and ensure the run rate was not galloping away from them.
Despite Alberton hitting the ball in the air more often than not, they managed to find gaps in the field, and those that could have gone to hand too often went to ground.
Alberton finished on 250/9, and the new ball was going to be critical when Eds batted.
Grant Roelofsen (35) and Daniel van der Berg (32) batted well in trying conditions, and when Roelofsen was run out, Stephen Cook came in with a plan to see if chasing the target was feasible on that wicket.
Both Cook and Roelofsen played attractive cricket but went largely unrewarded. Had the match been played on a fast outfield like Wanderers, then both would have comfortably scored centuries.
Cook finished unbeaten on 34, and with Gareth Harte weighing in with an unbeaten 34, Old Eds finished on 160/3, and the match ended in a draw.
The Premier T20 team has so far won all three matches in that competition, and are secure at the top of their section.
