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!
