Venue:                         Muir                                        Date: 13 February 2010

Toss Won By:             Kingswood, and chose to bat first.

Format:                        Declaration/ Time.

 

Muir was in good form. After winning the toss and losing two early wickets to fantastic swing bowling, it was clearly evident, as to why they have been unbeaten this year. In a desperately needed partnership, Neil Hornbuckle and Jason Davidson (24) put on 78 for the 3^rd wicket, although with a fair amount of good fortune at times. Hornbuckle rode his luck and attacked the bowling relentlessly, before being dismissed for 94. Muir then took the initiative after the morning tea break, with Brendon Adams claiming 5 for 32. Kingswood ended up on a disappointing 187 all out, although the track had slowed considerably since the first hour, which seemed to make scoring a little more difficult.

 

It needed a good bowling and fielding performance if Kingswood were ever going to defend their score against a quality side. And they were better than that. In a brilliant display, the opening attack of Loocke and van Breda pegged Muir back immediately. Both claiming a wicket each and only bowling 3 ‘boundary balls’ in the first 12 overs. Evans and Davidson then continued applying the suffocating pressure, as Muir slipped to 56 for 5 at afternoon tea. The next session would decide the result, with all three outcomes still possible. In a match- winning over by Hornbuckle, it was rather the fielding instead of the bowling, which clinched the match. Nicholas Gailey took a diving catch at deep mid-wicket to rally the team, but that was followed up by probably the best school boy catch I have ever seen in my life, by Lihleli Xoli. In-form batsman, Dale Adams, had skied an attempt to hit over the bowlers head, and Xoli had to track back 30 metres from a mid-on position to eventually take the catch with a dive, parallel to the ground over his head, in the long-off position. This left Muir at 76 for 7, but they were still not done fighting, which was an obvious characteristic of the tough Muir side. A solid 48 run partnership was eventually broken by another Jason Davidson yorker as he ended with fine figures of 4 for 20. Muir then dismissed for 128, and Kingswood winning by 49 runs.

 

The Kingswood bowlers were truly brilliant, and even though a number of run-out opportunities were missed, their catching was special to witness on the day. A hard fought-for, and well deserved victory.

 

 

Kingswood 187 all out.

 

 

Muir 128 all out.

 

 

Kingswood won by 49 runs.