A proud winning team! Another bonus point win, but 1 point short of finishing in the top spot in the league.

The Excelsior I team travelled to Paarl to face a formidable second spot Drakenstein EDU team. Needing a bonus-point win to challenge the first placed Wolseley on 32 points and Excelsior I on 31 points.

On an overcast morning, the opposition won the toss and elected to bat first. The Drakenstein team ended with 145 all out in the 34th over with G Petersen contributing a 63 off 56 balls. The Excelsior I bowling destroyer, JP Anthony, finished with bowling figures of 35/4 in his 10 overs.

Our turn to bat and we knew that chasing this score by the 40th over would mean a bonus point for us, but we first focussed on getting ourselves in and just going for the win first. The innings went on well with S Sederman (26 off 24 balls) and D Walbrugh (34 off 70 balls) obtaining the highest runs in the innings, but everyone contributed in our efforts. Partnerships of 41 and 41 between D Walbrugh and A Ras and D Walbrugh and JP Anthony, respectively, stabilised the ship after a few early wickets. 8 runs to go, everything almost went haywire as a flurry of wickets fell. The final few runs were scored with 1 wicket in hand and in the 39th over meaning that the bonus point was obtained.

Well done boys! It has been a great season, unlucky we did not finish top. Hats off to Wolseley, we wish you well in the playoffs. Next season we will come back stronger!