It’s always a pleasure to host Melkbos Fellows at Groot Drak. After electing to bat first, the Drakies sent in father-and-son duo, Jonathan and James Boulton to open the batting. James, at only twelve years old, looked completely at ease against the opening bowlers and showed his class with the bat, middling everything. Jono got off to a slow start but put the foot down once he entered the 30s. Boulton senior notched up another half century for the season and, just before drinks, smashed 5 boundaries in 6 balls, including two sixes behind square. At the 18 over mark, the Boultons had put on a remarkable unbeaten opening stand of 84 before electing to retire after a properly special and historic first session.
After drinks, there was a top-order collapse with Bruce Taylor, Jaco Swarts and Rob Walker failing to put on significant runs.
Batting outside of the top 5 for the first time, Christiaan Ritter came to the crease with only 14 overs left in the innings and Groot Drak in major trouble. Herman Fourie’s stint with the bat lasted just 6 balls as stand-in captain, Craig McNaught joined Christiaan out in the middle, with the score effectively 134 for 6.
Christiaan wasted very few balls before the destructive hitting started. It took him just 28 balls to get to fifty, showing no signs of easing off the gas. Craig nudged the ball around and enjoyed the fireworks display from the non-strikers end for the majority of his innings.
Only 15 balls after getting his half-century, Christiaan did the unthinkable and smashed his way to a maiden century for Groot Drak – a breath-taking innings that boasted 6 sixes and 9 fours.
After the allotted 35 overs, Drak had posted a solid total of 242. Christiaan was 101 not out from 45 and Craig undefeated on 21 from 16.
After a short lunch interval, Melkbos Fellows were padded up and ready to start the run chase.
With limited pace options, Craig McNaught and Albert van Tonder opened the bowling. Craig took a fair amount of tap and removed himself from the attack after four overs, while Albert kept the batters reasonably quiet, conceding fewer than 6 an over in his six over spell.
Spin twins Jaco Swarts (0/31 from 2.1) and Bruce Taylor (1/26 from 3) were out of sorts with the ball, but as he does more often than not, Bruce managed to buy a wicket with a full toss, spectacularly caught by Herman Fourie at long on for the first wicket. At this stage, both openers had fifty a piece with Melkbos now on 130/1.
In his first ever bowling spell for the club, Mark Rist (0/28 from 4) turned his arm over and had the batsmen in a fair amount of trouble and was unlucky not to nab a wicket or two.
Being introduced late in the piece, Callum Woolley was, without a doubt, the pick of the bowlers for Groot Drak. His variations and ‘mystery spin’ caused all sorts of headaches for the Fellows. Callum logged highly impressive returns of 3/36 in his 7 overs on a pitch that was extremely batsman-friendly.
Herman Fourie’s four overs of leg-spin went for 31, while an injured Christiaan Ritter (0/10 from 2) bowled off five paces towards the death.
Roger of Melkbos Fellows structured a very well paced hundred that saw the visitors clinch a narrow, but hard fought and well-deserved victory. The score was surpassed with 11 balls to spare and only 4 wickets down.
The result was quickly forgotten as both teams gathered in the shade to recount a highly emotive game of friendly cricket, while sharing a few cold beverages.
Thanks and well done to Melkbos Fellows – we’re already looking forward to the next one!
Man of the match: Christiaan Ritter
Match report by Craig McNaught
