Crusaders pull off unlikely win in Cup match

In a complete turn of events this past weekend in the 5th round Cup match between The Legends XI and the Crusaders at the T&N Smeda Stadium, the home team pulled off an unlikely 9-wicket victory. During the week many, including players, had said that this would probably be the final Cup match for the Crusaders as The Legends XI were going to be formidable opponents. Even those players in the 2nd XI were preparing for their friendlies that come after the 1st XI has been knocked out of the Cup.

Just short of a capacity crowd showed up for this match, clearly some feeling that this was not going to be a winning cause. The bowlers surely felt the same as they were hit all over the park, especially by captain Neil who made an excellent 110 of 91 balls. The bowling was not overly bad from the Crusaders, just the lack of big match temperament was what was lacking on their part. Chris Kotzo was the only bowler to pick up wickets, ending with 2/46.

Needing 278 to win, Prince and Simpson started off well, scoring at a run a ball in an opening stand of 94 before Simpson hit his own stumps while on 37. The Crusaders were neck and neck with the run rate as Prince continued to send the ball to the boundary, aided by his vice-captain Graeme Jeremy. The left-handers were just too dominant for the bowlers and they began to lose their line as the pressure built up against them. Victory came in the 45th over with Prince unbeaten on 152 (with 15 fours and 2 sixes) and Jeremy not out on 82.

“This is a huge victory for us,” said Prince at the post-match conference. “We were written off and I’m sad to say that some of us senior guys also had some doubts as to whether we could pull it off. We stuck to the basics, nothing fancy, and it worked for us.”

Chris Kotzo added, “I have to say that I was one of those who expected a hiding, but we play well together as a team and we have succeeded in keeping our lineup fairly consistent over the last 2 seasons. I think if it wasn’t for that team spirit, that we would have fallen short.”

The Crusaders will play the LTX Breakers in the 6th round, once again another home match for them. The LTX Breakers are also on an unbeaten streak in limited-overs matches this season and this will once again be a close tie.

Preview – T&N Crusaders v The Legends XI

This weekend the Crusaders host The Legends XI in their 5th round Cup match. The Legends XI, on a similar winning streak to the Crusaders, are expected to take victory and move into the next round of Cup matches as their experience and abilities outweigh that of the Crusaders quite substantially.

John Simpson seems to have settled nicely into the opener’s role, and therefore the pre-season expectation of Geoff Kenny and Graeme Jeremy opening in one-day matches has been obliterated, as Simpson joins captain Michael Prince at the top of the order.

Prince on the team, “No more messing around or tweaking with the squad. This is where experience is going to count the most as we’re up against a team that has excellent players. In light of that, we have picked our most experienced available team for this match.”

After listening to those comments from Prince, its hard to believe that Stuart Capp, down to come in at 4, is considered in the “experienced” bracket. Nonetheless he is playing well and deserves his place.

Chris Kotzo’s experience will be vital in this match, although the spinner is not optimistic, “We’re on a hiding to nothing, and I see this as an opportunity to feel a true pressure moment where we’re playing against a top-notch team. It will be fun and I hope that the fans will still come out.”

The team is: Prince(c), Simpson, Jeremy, Capp, Weeks, Stearman, Ahad(wk), Blott, Kotzo, Fox, Ayres. 12th: Immelman.

Simpson’s all-round skills wins it for Crusaders

The Crusaders traveled to HarleyRules170 Cricket Ground for a one-day league match. The Crusaders, who have not been beaten all season in limited-overs cricket, took victory by 7 wickets, thanks to a man-of-the-match performance by spinner John Simpson.

The home team won the toss and batted first, a decision which began fatally as they were reduced to 9/2. Wilkshire and Oliver(45) put on 101 for the 4th wicket as they consolidated the innings, but Simpson was not going to allow a big score to be posted. Despite being smashed for 3 sixes, Simpson was the winner in the battle between bat and ball as he scalped 5 wickets, including the vital one of Wilkshire, caught behind for 73. Rookie Stephen Harding ended wicketless, but once again bowled with immense control, going for only 30 in his 10 over alotment.

The Crusaders, with their 4th opening combination of the season, began well and never really looked in any trouble. Simpson was the first to go, run out for 57. Downing followed shortly after for 19, but Prince’s defiant 68 off 124 balls kept the innings together. Stuart Capp came in and blasted an unbeaten 36 off just 27 balls, ensuring that his team remains on top of the table.

With four victories under their belt, the Crusaders sit comfortably at the top of the table with really not team looking capable of catching them. While there are still 10 more matches to be played in the one-day league, promotion is looking very assured early on for the Crusaders.

Crusaders cruise into 5th round

Crusaders played their 4th round match at home and hosted the Griffiths Mxenge Cricket Club. Once again the stadium was filled to capacity and the fans were not disappointed as they saw their team win their Cup tie by 268 runs.

Michael Prince, after winning the toss and batting first, started off well despite losing partner Graeme Jeremy first ball. He knuckled down with William Downing in a partnership of 96 for the 2nd wicket. Downing was trapped in front for 43 by Kolbe. Marc Weeks joined Prince and together they put on 124 for the 3rd wicket stand. Prince was run out for 113, scored off only 87 balls. Enter Ron Stearman and damage control was in overdrive. Weeks scored at almost a run-a-ball and fell four short of his maiden one-day century. But it was Stearman who stole the show as he smashed 10 fours in his unbeaten 76 which came off just 56 balls. Crusaders ended their 50 overs on 347/4.

The visitors could not put up a fight against the hostile bowling of Eddie Ayres and Tim Fox. Ayres took 2 wickets in his opening and only spell, ending with 2/18. Fox was the reaper of the tight bowling of Ayres in the beginning as he ended with 4/20, supported by spinner Kotzo’s 2/13.

Prince said after the match, “We are thrilled at this victory. Last season our Cup campaign ended at the 4th round so I’m delighted to be able to take the team into another week of Cup action. It doesn’t matter who we come up against, we’ll be giving it our all, especially since we’ll be playing at home again in front of hopefully yet another full stadium.”

Grounds manager, Jamie McLaren, also had comments after the match, “Its incredible to see such a huge turnout of supporters. Last season, while we were planning the upgrade and renovation of the facility, we were concerned that we were stretching too far with the increase of capacity, feeling that we would be spending too much money on empty seats. Just a month into the season and I can see how far off we were as we have had 3 full houses already this season. We turn hundreds away because we just don’t have the space for the extra droves. I do plan to make a recommendation to the Board for another upgrade in stadium facilities during mid-season. Until then, those who are lining up for the 5th round, come early!”

Brilliant Jeremy runs away with match

The fans filled the T&N Smeda Stadium to capacity on Friday night in an excellent one-day match between the Crusaders and the team from Grimbeekpark. The most amazing experience ever had by fans of the Crusaders happened at the Stadium as they witnessed supreme batting and exciting bowling.

Michael Prince, once again batting at 3 in the one-day side, won the toss and elected to bat first. The Crusaders began strong with an opening stand of 128 between Jimmy Mokoena(68) and Graeme Jeremy. Prince went for a slow 15, although he played mostly a support-role in the 2nd wicket partnership of 60. Stuart Capp joined Jeremy and they demolished the bowling to all corners of the park as they put on 147. Jeremy was finally dismissed for 169 as he was caught at deep cover, going for his 4th six. The crowd gave him a standing ovation after his 144-ball knock which included 13 fours and 3 sixes. Capp followed shortly after for 71 as he tried to drive over the infield, caught at mid-on by Doig off Bolan.

Once again, for the second week running, Immelman was the star of the bowling attack as he and Branson ripped through the batting lineup, taking the visitors to 27/8 before Fox cleaned up in his only over. Immelman ended with 5/12 and Branson took 3/12.

This win brought about the 5th successive limited-overs victory for the Crusaders as they strive for a league victory and promotion to division 4.

Huge 3rd round victory for Crusaders

Round 3 of the Knockout Cup ended with great satisfaction at the T&N Smeda Stadium with their team scoring an emphatic 292-run victory over Constantia Cricket Club.

Michael Prince won the toss and elected to bat first, seeing that the wicket would turn greatly later in the day. The decision was a good one as 208 runs were put on between Prince and Graeme Jeremy for the opening stand. Both batsmen were merciless against some wayward bowling, Jeremy especially being severe with his 11 fours and 2 sixes in his innings if 119 in just 95 balls. Prince’s running between the wickets was a superb example and he also raced to 134 off 117 deliveries, and shared in a 2nd wicket partnership of 101 with rookie William Downing. Downing, in his first innings in the 1st XI outfit, played maturely for his 67 which came off 59 balls. Marc Weeks(33* off 21) and Ron Stearman(14* off ended strong for the Crusaders and 380 was the target that they set Constantia for victory.

Constantia were never in the hunt as they fell to 8/3 thanks to a remarkable opening spell between Blott and Branson. Blott bowled through and ended with 2/30, while man of the match Michael Prince, bowled his spinners with great composure and took 3/4 in 2 overs. Constantia were bowled out for 88, giving the Crusaders a passage into the 4th round to face the Griffiths Mxenge Cricket Club.

Prince said after the match, “The batsmen are hitting the ball well, the bowlers are finding an excellent line and length, the fielders are taking their catches, its an excellent time to be a supporter of Crusaders cricket. We’ve started the one-day season well and I hope that we continue to put on a good show for all of our fans.”

The players and management of the Crusaders acknowledged the turnout of the fans that was only 400 short of a capacity crowd. It appears that the stadium renovations with an additional 4000 seats was not enough as the supporters continue to flock to the stadium and the fan-base continues to increase.

Harding spins Crusaders to victory

In their 2nd match of the season, the Crusaders played Frankfort Cricket Club in an away match at the Frankfort Cricket Ground.

Frankfort, who won the toss and elected to bat first on a green top, were surprisingly spun out by the young Academy spinner, Stephen Harding. The innings did not start well for the home team as they lost their first wicket in the second over when captain Avermaete was foolishly run out. The 2nd wicket partnership was built up to 46 before Harding got into the action. The spinner picked up some amazing turn as he caught the batsmen unawares on many occasions. Harding finished with 4/12 from 6 overs, and once again John Simpson provided the back-up with 2/3 from 5 overs. Tim Fox took 2/14.

Like last week, victory came quickly for the Crusaders as they finished the match in less than 15 overs with match captain Graeme Jeremy ending on 49*. Simpson made 35*.

Captain Jeremy on Harding’s efforts, “Stephen bowled with enormous control and I was delighted that he came good. I personally have been watching him at the Academy a lot since we attend together, and have seen how well he has been catching on to the art of leg-spin bowling. I suspect that the spin options in the 1st XI have now been expanded.”

Crusaders blown away

Wooden Woblers beat the T&N Crusaders at the T&N Smeda Stadium in a first-class division 3 match this week. It was a completely single-sided affair as Crusaders were bowled out for 38 in their first innings with Giles picking up 5/11.

The visitors declared on 603 with Blott the only wicket-taker of 2 wickets.

The Crusaders batted slightly better in their second innings, but they were always going to receive a thrashing and were bowled out for 73. Jeremy top-scored with 41*, while Tsepo took 3/10.

Immelman too much for Balmoral

T&N Crusaders walked to victory by 10 wickets in their 2nd round Cup match at the Balmoral Cricket Ground thanks to some brilliant bowling led by John Immelman.

On a green wicket, the pace bowlers were itching to get first use of the wicket and this occured after Balmoral won the toss and elected to bat first. The bowling of Immelman and Greg Ransom proved too much as they quickly folded for 56 all out in 25 overs. Immelman stole 4/12 with Ransom being an able support with his 3/14. Ciaran Winder, picked up 1/3 in 5 overs with his chinamen spinners.

The target was too easy for the Crusaders and they polished off the runs in the 10th over with Prince making 47* and Mokoena ended unbeaten on 11.

Prince on the victory, “Nice that we ended the match in under 3 hours, allowing us some free time this afternoon. We pretty much expected this to be all over quickly, but we try not to take anything for granted as that has proven our downfall in the past.”

Preview – Balmoral CC v T&N Crusaders

The Crusaders travel to Balmoral Cricket Ground this weekend for their 2nd round Cup fixture against Balmoral Cricket Club. Having won their first round match easily, this should be another simple victory judging on the home team’s current poor form in their division.

Matric pupil William Downing makes his limited-overs debut in this match, hoping to transform his pre-season form into runs.

The team selected for the match is: Prince(c), Mokoena, Downing, Capp, Stearman, Simpson, Ahad(wk), Ransom, Branson, Winder, Immelman. 12th: Giles.