Cricket | Union Stars Shine Again As Premier League Champions
After a drought of six years (since 2018/19) the Union Stars Cricket Club from Oudtshoorn will have the Peterson Trophy as winners of the Six Gun Grill Premier League back in their trophy cabinet.
The Union Stars team who won the Premier League on Saturday is:
Back Row: Breyton Plaatjies, Reagon Rhode, Keenan Arries, Lee-Henry Meyer, Thurstin Murphy, Grant Esau, Caylib Jacobs and Erinn Ewerts
Front Row: Merlin Masimela (Coach), Jean Heunis (captain), Yamkela Xhakane and Corné Kennedy
Union Stars, outplayed their challengers – Sussex from Mossel Bay – in the final at the REC Ground in Oudtshoorn on Saturday and won by 7 wickets.
Union Stars, who won the toss, opted to bowl first in front of an enthusiastic crowd and applied the pressure from the word go. Opening bowler and the top wicket-taker in the league, Lee-Henry Meyer, did not disappoint his captain and teammates as he bagged 6/40 – bowling ten overs on the trot. The Union Stars fielders were sharp and took some fine catches as Sussex never recovered and was dismissed for a modest 96 – the second-lowest score in a final.
Jean Heunis (left), the captain of Union Stars receives the Peterson Trohphy as winners of the SWDC Premier league from Mr Micheal Eksteen (President of SWD Cricket)The veteran, Roaul de Reuck (21 from 62 balls) fought a lonely battle as Reagon Rhode (3/9) was also destructive with some fine leg spin bowling.
In spite of losing two early wickets Grant Esa (32*), Thurstin Murphy (27*) batted with great responsibility for an unbeaten 54 runs partnership of the 4th wicket as the newly crowned champions reached the target (97/3) after 20 overs for an easy 7 wicket victory.
Union Stars, as winners of the SWD title will now compete on the weekend 28-30 March against the winners of the Boland and Western Province to determine who will represent the Western Cape in the Cricket South Africa Club championship in
The summarized score card is:
Union Stars vs Sussex
SUSSEX 96 all out – 26.5 overs (Roual de Reuck 21, Lee-Henry Meyer 6/40, Reagon Rhode 3/9) UNION STARS 99/3 – 20 overs (Grant Esau 32*, Thurstin Murphy 27*, Jean Heunis 25)
UNION STARS won by 7 wickets
