Claremont claim tough four-wicket win

Mark Ward

Constantia-based Claremont’s hard-fought four-wicket victory over Rylands at the AW Mukuddem Oval, in Athlone, on Saturday may well be the spark they need to climb out of the Western Province Premier League relegation zone.

After winning the toss and sending Rylands into bat, Claremont struck almost immediately. Seamer Kyle Pluke made the perfect start, bowling Siyabonga Venge with the very first ball of his opening over for a duck. The early breakthrough settled the visitors, who went on to bowl with good control up front.

Cedric Landers then added to Rylands’ frustration when Joshua Pistorius took a sharp catch to remove the experienced Mujahid Behardien for 43. Pluke followed with his second wicket, trapping Bonga Makaka (57) lbw, leaving the home side wobbling at 77/4. Despite the early damage, Rylands managed to rebuild steadily and pushed their way to a respectable 186/7 in their 50 overs.

Claremont’s reply began shakily. The visitors stumbled in the early overs and found themselves under pressure with three wickets down for just 15 runs. But where previous matches have seen their middle order collapse, this time they showed composure.

Pistorius, who had already impressed with figures of 2/37, played a crucial hand with the bat as well, contributing a well-judged 43. His innings helped stabilise the run chase and brought belief back.

Supporting him was Harlan Greig, who scored 40 off 46 deliveries, keeping Claremont in the contest. But it was Landers who stood tall when it mattered most. His unbeaten 58 (4x4, 2x6)  anchored the innings and ensured Claremont crossed the line with four wickets in hand, sealing a much-needed victory.

The win will bring immense relief to coach Eugene Moleon and his squad. Although they remain 11th on the log with eight points, the performance showcased the potential that has too often gone missing this season. With momentum now in their favour, Claremont is gearing up for a challenging away fixture against Brackenfell.

For Rylands, the loss is a major setback after being back in the top league, having been relegated two seasons ago, they have struggled to adjust to the intensity of Premier League cricket. With no points to show from their first six matches, Saturday’s defeat forces them to reflect on missed opportunities.

Their next test comes against Bellville at home, where they will be desperate to break their winless run and begin moving away from the foot of the table.

Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Avenue de Mist this coming Saturday, for the headline clash between Western Province Cricket Club and Rondebosch will take place. Although it’s only a first-round encounter, just four points separate the top contenders, and the result could offer both sides valuable insight ahead of the second half of the season.

Next weekend, WPCC will travel to Stellenbosch to take part in the Western Cape play-offs of the T20 Community Cup, facing Pacaltsdorp and the Southwestern Districts and Boland winner, Van der Stel, for a shot at going through to the national finals in Johannesburg.