Kuils River Cricket Club’s Sheldon Adams, 28, shone with the ball at the weekend, taking 5/39 in the second day of his side’s Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) division 1A two-day fixture against United CC.
Despite the off-spinner taking a fiver, it was not enough to secure victory as his side lost by 157 runs, at the Sarepta Sports Complex, in Kuils River.
Kuils River were on the back foot from day one as the visitors posted 247/9 in their first innings with captain Craig Ephraim, the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/54.
The home side were 149/9 at the end of day one and could only add one run on day two with opener Aldo Jantjies, who top-scored with 73.
The Green Point side declared on 141/8 in their second innings, with Adams being the chief destroyer.
Kuils River had been set a daunting 247 for victory but were bowled out for 81. United’s Shaheed Abarder and Bernard Mukondiwab were the pick of the bowlers, taking 4/8 and 3/43, respectively.
Adams, an all-rounder, said his side started off well but let the game slip away as the match progressed.
“In their second innings we had them 30/5 but they had a good sixth wicket partnership which extended their lead.
“We can keep our heads up high because we never gave up and there were patches in the match where we had the upper hand,” he said.
The former Sarepta High School pupil has been in good form in the WPCA division 1A two-day format, having taken 11 wickets in two matches.
Adams said his early season form with the ball is a great confidence booster for the remaining 2016/2017 campaign.
“I did not even know that I had 11 wickets. I hope to keep up this good knock and be a thorn in my opponents’ sides,” he said.
The Kuila Boys have not had the best of starts to the WPCA division 1A two-day format as they lost by 85 runs to Green Point, in their opening fixture, last month.
However, they did make it to the semi-finals of the WPCA division 1A T20 format but lost by three wickets against Montrose with the one-day format starting next month.
Head coach Clinton Dyason said his side has not done too badly this season. In the longer format they have been on top in periods of the matches.
“We have to do the basics right and be a lot more persistent.
“We have the ability to match the teams in this league because it showed in the shorter format. Our main goal for the season is to finish mid-table,” he said.
Last season, Kuils River were crowned champions of the WPCA division 1B in the two-day and T20 format.
To top it off they were also unbeaten in those formats and were promoted to the WPCA division 1A. Their only defeat came against Bishop Lavis in the one-day format.
Dyason said his side had a great season last year, winning the double and beating teams comfortably.
“We won’t do anything different to last year. We just have to apply ourselves better on the day,” he said.