Close win for Benoni Northerns in Premier League clash against CBC Old Boys
It is now four on the trot for Kurt Francis and his team.
Benoni Northerns Cricket Club’s (BNCC) Premier League XI secured their fourth league victory of the 2018/2019 Eastern Cricket Union season when they enjoyed another closely run win on November 4, this time by two wickets.
Following on from their win in the Benoni cricket derby against Actonville Spurs the weekend prior, the BNCC team travelled to CBC College in Boksburg to play a strong CBC Old Boys team.
BNCC skipper Kurt Francis lost the morning coin toss and was asked to bowl first by his opposite number, Casey Arnold.
Medium-paced opening bowler Stefan Jordaan was again good with the cherry, bagging figures of 3/31 in 10 overs while his fellow opener, Kundai Matigimu, and first-change bowler, Stefando di Bartolomeo, each bagged a brace as CBC saw out their 50-over batting innings with the score at 204/9.
With the bat, it was left-handed BNCC opener Vaughn Humphrey who again shone.
He scored his third half-century in as many matches for Northerns, but would be kicking himself after he didn’t convert his score of 79 runs from 94 deliveries into a century.
Scores of 31 runs apiece from Francis and Leonard Killian helped edge Northerns closer, but when they were dismissed it was left to di Bartolomeo and young WP Myburgh to calmly carry BNCC over the line in the 43rd over with just two wickets in hand.
“It was another close one on Sunday,” said Francis.
“It’s getting more stressful than picking out a Christmas present for your girlfriend or your wife.
“Playing these close games is good to watch for the spectators, but nervy for us.
“Once again the bowlers were superb in hitting their straps early on.
“We did let ourselves down again in the field.
“We restricted a good batting line-up to 204, which we were happy about.
“Vaughn is our main man at the moment, scoring all the runs.
“He batted extremely well again and helped get us through.
“Losing too many wickets at once doesn’t help our cause though.
“I feel we just need one convincing performance with the bat and everything will start ticking well.”
The team will play against arch-rivals Kempton Park Cricket Club at Northern Areas on November 11 and Francis called on cricket-loving Benonians to come down to Northerns to support the side on Sunday.
The first delivery is set to be bowled at 10am.
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