Appollis five-for sinks Paarl Gim’s fightback

Despite an inspired late charge by Liam Burger and Zheemo Isaacs for Paarl Gimnasium, the visiting Paul Roos Gimnasium rolled to a convincing 128-run victory, thanks to a five-wicket haul by Callum Appollis and half-centuries from Beor van Reenen and Liam Basson.

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The Stellenbosch side won the toss and elected to bat, but it didn’t go well for them in the early going.

Gimmies had PRG struggling on 46/4, but Liam Burger and Beor van Reenen steadied the ship for their side, with both notching fifties, to drive the Paul Roos total to 242.

Louis Koen caused the Paul Roos batting lineup all sorts of problems, though, snaring five wickets for only 45 runs.

Koen’s father, the ex-Springbok flyhalf, Louis Koen, and his brother, Liam, who currently plays for the Blue Bulls u20 team, and who was a successful cricketer in his own right, also attended the proud Paarl school, and Louis jnr appears destined to carry on the family tradition of sporting excellence.

Liam Burger also bowled well for the hosts, capturing three wickets, and Koch van Eyssen added two more.

Paul Roos had four players selected for the u19 Boland squad for the Khaya Majola Cricket Week this year, but two of them, the matriculants’ Josh Jordaan and Cormey van der Watt, were not involved in the match against Gim. However, the younger duo of Riley Norton and Callum Appollis both shone with the ball.

Appollis tore through the Paarl Gim batting, nabbing five wickets for only 22 runs, while Norton bowled five overs, drew first blood with the second delivery of the Gim innings, and conceded only 13 runs.

The Boland powerhouse ripped the locals’ batting lineup apart. At 48/8, all hope looked lost for Paarl Gim.

Liam Burger and Zheemo Jacobs dug deep, however, putting together an impressive partnership of 57 under immense pressure. Yet, despite their efforts, Paul Roos were dismissed for 114, still well short of their target by 129 runs.

An appetising and challenging fixture awaits Paul Roos next weekend, when their stayers take on Rondebosch in preparation for the forthcoming season.

Summarised scorecard

Paul Roos Gimnasium 242 (Beor van Reenen 57, Liam Basson 56, Extras 31, Neil Barnard 27*; Louis Koen 5/45, Liam Burger 3/13, Koch van Eyssen 2/23); Paarl Gimnasium 114 (Liam Burger 43, Zheemo Isaacs 21, Extras 20; Callum Appollis 5/22, Dian Winkel 2/34). Paul Roos Gimnasium won by 128 runs.