BNCC Premier One side still top after Brakpan win
Northerns still have their slim lead at the top of the league.
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The battle for the number one spot of the Eastern Premier League One, ahead of the playoffs, is heating up as the league portion heads into the final stages.
Benoni Northerns Cricket Club (BNCC), on March 11, kept their slender one-point advantage at the pinnacle of the table after a 57-run away win over United Cricket Club at Hosking Park in Brakpan.
The team missed out on what could be a vitally important bonus point by a mere run.
Half-centuries from Rian van der Merwe (70 runs from 91 balls), Aron Visser (back in form with 52 runs from 80 balls) and skipper Kurt Francis (54 runs from 41 balls) got the team to 234 runs in their batting innings.
Phumelelo Masetlane was the star bowler with figures of 3/34 in 6.1 overs while Stefano di Bartolomeo (2/28 in eight overs) and Stefan Jordaan (2/16 in five overs) were equally as impressive, as United were wrapped up for 177 runs in 44.1 overs.
Northerns now have a one-point lead over Kempton Park who moved into second place with a bonus-point victory over Alberton, now in third place, on Sunday.
They will back themselves for a bonus point win when they host Bedfordview at Northern Areas on March 18.
The club’s Premier League Two side made it four matches unbeaten with a five-wicket victory over Duduza at Northern Areas on Sunday.
Batting first, Duduza got to 168 runs before they were all out in 43.2 overs.
Brett Martindale, Shawn Wessels and Sifiso Shabangu each got a brace of wickets with the ball.
Northerns chased down the Duduza total in 34 overs with Nicolas Lockyer top-scoring with 38 not out.
They will next play Kempton Park at Northerns’ B-field on March 18.
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