The annual pilgrimage up to Graaff-Reinet before each season was made for a fourth consecutive year as Groot Drak selected their strongest side for the Montego T20 Tournament. After a long bus journey to the Karoo, the team prepared to play their first game under lights against the Cape Town Invitational XI. Leading from the front, tour-captain MC Uys opened the batting and scored a valuable 50, with Groot Drak posting a competitive total, which they defended to post their first win for the tournament.

The next morning saw Groot Drak play an absolute humdinger against Graaff-Reinet, in which the defending champions needed 10 runs off the last two balls with one wicket in hand. Those last two balls went for 6 and 4, causing heartbreak for Groot Drak.

The afternoon game was played against Paarl Swingers, who started off with a bang, but were bundled out for 122 runs. With some great batting from Herman Fourie and Morne Maritz, Groot Drak coasted to victory in the 14th over.

On the last day, needing two wins from the next two games to reach the final, Groot Drak were determined and focused.

The morning game was played against Uitenhage who fielded first, affording Groot Drak a total of 136. The bowlers stepped up and narrowly allowed Groot Drak to defend the total, meaning the next game was in essence a semi-final featuring Despatch and Groot Drak.

Every bowler for Groot Drak fired, limiting Despatch to a very achievable 94 runs. Without too much trouble, Groot Drak blasted the runs in little more than 9 overs, with Morne Maritz putting in a well-deserved man-of-the-match performance, sending Groot Drak to their first ever final!

The final was played under lights against a fresh and fired-up Graaff-Reinet team, who posted an intimidating 164 after their 20 overs.  The score proved too much, as Groot Drak had a complete collapse, managing just over half the runs before being bowled out.

Heads high, Groot Drak collected the prize for second-place and left Graaff-Reinet the next morning with a renewed sense of pride, purpose and excitement for the season ahead!

The opening game of the 2017 season was our regular fixture against Villiersdorp. 
Always a competitive side and with last seasons stats against them being one win and one loss the Groot Drakies were psyched to get out of the blocks. 

Villiersdorp’s skipper Hennie De Wet was familiar with our tradition of fielding first and had no complaints upon inspecting Vitalis’s magnificently prepared pitch. We opened with the blistering pace of Van Zyl and Joubert Kotze and some attacking field placing. Fielding and bowling was impressively tight, Van Zyl getting 3/28 in his full spell of 7 overs and Craig McNaught having to be taken off early with his embarrassingly good form getting 3 wickets for 2 runs in just 3 overs! 

With wickets falling regularly we used the opportunity to experiment with some other bowlers and both Marco and newbie Andri bowling beautifully for 1/3 after 1 over and 2/2 after 2 respectively. 

Villiersdorp where back in the cub house for 59 runs. Groot Drak passed their score losing just 4 wickets and the afternoon was concluded fairly early, so the skippers convened and it was decided to play a T/10 quick format. Each captain selected a player in turn, this was a huge success, great fun and an excellent indictment of the spirit of friendly cricket playing two mixed teams selected from the two clubs. 

Fines, needless to say, were entertaining and well spirited as both teams, spectators and family all sat in a large circle reminiscing over the day and putting a few cold ones past parched lips! 

MATCH REPORT FROM JONO BOULTON

Saturday the 21st of January 2017 was Groot Drak’s first match of the New Year. 

Having had a great first-half of the season, this fixture against Villiersdorp was one of only 2 matches we had lost last year (narrowly on a rain-affected home wicket), so the lads headed over the pass eagerly to set things right. 

We lost the toss and headed out to field in the heat, our bowling attack was probably the strongest in a very, vey long time with a blistering pace onslaught of Morne Maritz, Marnitz Phister, Joubert Kotze and Craig McNaught. 

The opposition pushed and prodded and were 68 for 4 at drinks. Our usual tactic of then bringing on the spin from both ends was just too much of a carrot to dangle and the batsmen went out in a procession of exceptional catching and fielding. 

Our total to chase was 143 and an outstanding opening partnership by MC Uys and Gary “Gazza” Seaman, put us in the driving seat, the highlights being MC’s 44 off 42 balls and Gert Uys with 32 off 35 balls. 

The runs were scored in just 23 overs allowing the sick, aged and infirm to enjoy a cold beer in the shade. 

Victory and fines were indeed sweet, the game was played in a magnificent spirit and we look forward to a similar performance this weekend. 

MATCH REPORT FROM JONO BOULTON

On Saturday the 10th of December, the lads from Citrusdal Cricket Club paid Groot Drak a visit for the last game of 2016. With some persistent rain the day before, it looked like the game might be called off, but both sides were adamant to get another match in before the end of the year. 

Groot Drak took to the field with some pretty warm weather about – opening the bowling with Morne Maritz and Colin Myburgh. Both openers did a great holding job and took two wickets a piece – Myburgh finishing with very respectable figures of 2/25 off 7 and Maritz ending up with a remarkable 2/6 off 7, including 3 maidens. 

The middle overs of the innings saw club-debutant Nick Boulton (0/24 off 4) and Craig McNaught (1/27 off 7) leak some runs to give Citrusdal a slight advantage at the drinks break after several catches went to ground. 

After drinks, skipper Bruce Taylor (2/42 off 6) brought himself in to the attack, and, while conceding plenty of runs, took two vital wickets, dismissing both of Citrusdal’s top scorers. 

Helped by Niel van Tonder (1/31 off 5) and Christo la Grange (0/11 off 1), Citrusdal ended on 166/8 after their 35 overs. 

Groot Drak required a solid start as the brothers Boulton were charged with opening the batting. They were both given life-lines as a catch off either being put down early on. Those missed opportunities proved very costly as the brothers put on a magnificent opening stand of 122, with Nick being run out for 50 off 49 and Jono reaching 56 off 75. 

After the departure of both Boultons, Andrew McNaught (14* off 13) and Gary Seaman (22 off 18) saw off the remaining runs to guide the home team to a comfortable victory in the end; seeing Groot Drak win by 11.5 overs and 7 wickets. 

Both teams gathered in front of the clubhouse for a severe fines meeting that was harsh on some poor fielding and rewarded a number of excellent innings. Citrusdal gave a lot of ‘pointers’ to the local boys on how to conduct a proper fines meeting before heading off to man the braais and to support the bar well in to the night. 

A lot of new friends were made on the day, with the game being played in a wonderful spirit and both teams thoroughly enjoying the post-match festivities. While Groot Drak will go in to the New Year with the taste of victory still palpable, we expect a tough return match when the two teams meet again in Citrusdal in the middle of summer 2017! 

MATCH REPORT FROM CRAIG MCNAUGHT

On Sunday the 4th of December, Groot Drak played host to long-standing friends of the club, Western Province CC in the Alfie Cupido Memorial Game. A moment of silence was observed by both teams in remembrance of Groot Drak’s ex-captain who died suddenly on the field when these two teams met five years ago. 

Honouring tradition, Groot Drak took to the field first, opening the bowling with debutant Van Zyl de Wet (1/10 off 5) and Joubert Kotze (0/17 off 5). Some accurate pace-bowling from the two seamers meant that runs were hard to come by, which forced some loose shots and provided a few half-chances early on. 

The openers were replaced by Kudu Kotze (2/17 off 7) and Craig McNaught (1/19 off 6), who bowled a tight line until the drinks break. Whether it was something in the Oros or the heat of the African sun, the bowling radar malfunctioned somewhat and catching the ball became a challenge for the fielders. 

The spinners, Jaco ‘Beesboer’ Swarts (0/18 off 4) and Angus ‘Dr. Evil’ Simmers (2/23 off 5), aided by skipper Bruce ‘Olieboor’ Taylor (1/9 off 3) did their job by frustrating the opposition and claiming some valuable wickets. 

Western Province ended up with 118 runs from their 35 overs as both teams took a welcome lunch-break and a refreshing dip in the pool. 

Aggressive from ball one, Groot Drak’ opening batsmen, Jaco Swarts and Joubert Kotze (8) gave the home team a solid platform, with plenty of batting to come. Angus Simmers was instrumental in seeing the shine off the ball and put on a vital 12 off 25 before being adjudged LBW. Another debutant, Tiaan Herbst (8) looked good, but got out cheaply as he made way for Morne Landman, who made a welcome comeback after a long, injury-induced absence – scoring 16 runs from 14. 

Joined at the crease by Jono Boulton(2*), Jaco Swarts blasted an unbeaten man-of-match-winning 59 off 72 balls as Groot Drak comfortably chased down the required runs with 12 overs to spare. 

A great day out was reflected on during an extended fines meeting, seeing a handful of exceptional performances celebrated and some less-than-exceptional performances punished on both sides. We want to apologise on behalve of out Captain Bruce Taylor that repeatedly referred to Neil Watson as Ken and also the WPCC as CTCC. 

The two debutants, Van Zyl and Tiaan, were officially welcomed to the club via the initiation ceremony, introducing even more youth and talent to a wonderful group of cricketers. 

Both teams convened around the braais and solved the world’s problems over a few frosties and in good company. 

A wonderful day of cricket and camaraderie was enjoyed by all. We eagerly look forward to meeting up with Western Province Cricket Club in the New Year when we take them on in Cape Town. 

MATCH REPORT FROM CRAIG MCNAUGHT