INDY OIL Pinelands on their way to Newlands

On a cracking day for cricket the PCC 1st team made the trip out to UWC to face them in the first 20/20 semi final of the day.

PCC won the toss and chose to bat first setting a target of 142 to defend. We needed to restrict UWC to seal a spot in the final at Newlands in 5 months time!

PCC’s chances of restricting UWC seemed to have evaporated just past mid way through the chase when UWC needed about 60 runs off 9 overs, which became about 40 runs in the last 6 overs (meaning they had to go at just over a run a ball to win the game).

Earlier PCC after opting to bat first on a very good batting deck in a must win match put on a very competitive score for UWC to chase. With our talented top order in fine form, Colin Sher and Mike Pote gave us a superb start – with Aviwe and Jono at 3 and 4 continuing the momentum from the foundation set to reach 142/2. The Huss lead from the front with a match winning innings of 60 odd until he fell in the second last over.

On a spin friendly track the strategy of taking the pace off the ball started to pay off after the home team got off to an aggressive start with the opening partnership attacking the PCC seamers and putting them under the hammer early on in the chase. They got to 40 without loss after the 5th over with ease, and were well set to chase down the target. But PCC are in a fortunate position to have a variety of bowlers to call on and the slow bowling options came to the party after the power play overs. The boys pulled together and started a tenacious defence of the target to set up a nail biting contest that changed hands a few times during the course of the chase. The winners would be the first team to book their place in the final at Newlands and compete against the eventual 2nd semi-final winners of the day and defending Champions , United CC.

In the leggies 1st over (Nazim Parker), out of the blue a match winning shnaffel – Tempy plucked the ball full-stretch with his left hand at mid-wicket to remove the UWC danger man and get us back in the match. An important moment in the game took place. Quiet often throughout the chase, it looked as though UWC would break the hearts of the away team, ‘The Squirrels’ and our faithful supporters in attendance. But it was the UWC corner that faced some panicky moments come the 12/13th over when they began to lose a few wickets and lost a bit of momentum in the chase for glory. We could sense the jitters getting to them and the PCC belief started to increase again! That winning spirit was kicking in… Some good death bowling in the last three overs by the seamers made sure the squiz was on and UWC eventually ended comfortably short of the target.

Arriving on the Sunday morning back at the same ground where the same opposition had dominated us the previous day in the 2day format of the game; it was a hard pill to swallow for students! Well done to a great team effort boys – TICKER…2…3…shove! !