On Sunday, the 10th of March 2019, Groot Drak took a drive out to Somerset West to face Somerset Oakes. The weather looked threatening and the pitch was definitely a good one for bowling with some fairly sizable cracks visible from the start.
After losing the toss, Groot Drak were asked to field first – an all too common scenario.
The bowlers exploited the cracks and did a really good job of limiting the runs while consistently taking wickets. Special mention needs to be made of the performances by Jannes Mouton (37/3 from 7), Danie van der Nest (15/2 from 5) and “Back-in-form Bruce” Taylor (7/4 from 3.5), with debutant pace-bowler, Liam Carruthers taking his first wicket for the club as well.
With not one catch being put down, Groot Drak bowled Somerset Oakes out for 105 in the 28th over. With the pitch deteriorating, this was going to be a tough run chase.
Sure enough, wickets fell early and regularly as Groot Drak slumped to 31/5, with only MC Uys (16 from 18), Jono Boulton (13 from 32) and Adrian Raisbeck (14 from 33) managing double figures. It was starting to look like the unbeaten run in the FCA was coming to an end for the Drakies.
That was, of course, until Danie van der Nest was sent out to bat with a difficult task ahead of him. As the only batsman to manage a strike-rate of better than 100, Danie smashed a very well-paced 39* from 26, scoring the winning runs with a brilliant straight drive for six! Earning himself man-of-the-match once again, Danie showed some great fighting spirit and a ‘never-say-die’ attitude.
A few quick fines and a boerie-roll and the boys were back on the bus to catch the end of the Proteas ODI and to smash a pizza and one final beer.
A tough day at the office, but a hard-fought win against a wonderful bunch of guys from Somerset West!
Well done guys
Well done guys