Cavaliers knocked out in the T20 semi-finals

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CRICKET NEWS - There will be no successive T20 title for Knysna Cavaliers, who last weekend bowed out of the SWD T20 Competition at the semi-final stage. They were defeated by last season's T20 runners-up and Premier League champions Pacaltsdorp United.

Heading into the semi-final the two teams had experienced similar fortunes in this year's T20 competition, with both Cavaliers and Pacaltsdorp having two group stage matches rained out while winning the other one, before enjoying success in the quarter-finals.

Pacaltsdorp defeated Mossel Bay at home in their quarter-final while Cavaliers trumped Pioneers at home at Loerie Park to set up the mouth-watering semi-final.

The teams were two of SWD's best last season, trading titles in 2022/23. Cavaliers triumphed over Pacaltsdorp in the T20 final before the men from George got their revenge in the Premier League final, drawing matters level ahead of last weekend's semi-final.

Originally scheduled to be played at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn on Saturday 21 October, both semi-finals were postponed to their reserve day on Sunday due to rain on Saturday.

PHOTO GALLERY: Pacaltsdorp United against Knysna Cavaliers

Union Stars 1 and Union Stars 2 faced off in the first semi, and in a nail-biting encounter the former emerged victorious by only seven runs. With expectations high for the afternoon's semi-final, Cavaliers skipper Hayden Sweet won the toss and elected to bowl first on a pitch that looked promising for batters. This did prove to be the case as Pacaltsdorp openers Randy Wesso and Blayde Capell got their side off to a great start.

Keenan Vieira was influential with bat and ball for Cavaliers.

Their opening stand of 82 came to an end in the 11th over when Cavaliers bowler Blake Linder claimed Wesso's wicket with the final ball of his spell.

Capell continued to carry his side's innings before he fell for 60 with Pacaltsdorp on 125-3, courtesy of Cavaliers' Lutho Ngqongwa. Heath Richards (25) and Warren Bell (34) then caused carnage in the later overs, blitzing Pacaltsdorp to a total of 187-6 in their 20 overs. Ngqongwa and Jarred Jardine claimed two apiece while Linder and Keenan Vieira took one wicket each.

With a target of 188 and a required rate of 9,4 an over, Cavaliers needed to get off to a good start, and that they did. Sweet and opening partner JP Ellis took Cavaliers to 49 in the first five overs, but Sweet fell for 27 at the hands of Liyabonga Malife.

Pacaltsdorp took control of the match from there, with no Cavaliers batter other than Vieira (30) able to get going.

Bell dominated the innings with ball in hand for Pacaltsdorp, taking five wickets for only 11 runs in his four overs. JT Richards (two) as well as Malife and Leroi Bredenkamp (one each) were the other wicket takers for Pacaltsdorp.

They will take on Union Stars 1 in the final this weekend, while Cavaliers will set their sights on preparing for the Premier League season.

Thabo Dywili readies himself to take a catch for Cavaliers.