Northerns defeated in opening game

Benoni Northerns Cricket Club’s Premier XI got their 2014/2015 Easterns Premier League campaign off to a poor start on Sunday, October 5, with a now familiar away loss to CBC Old Boys.

It was a replay of the opening game of the last two seasons, with the Boksburg side now becoming something of a hoodoo opponent for Northerns, who also lost home and away to their near-neighbours during the 2013/14 season.

Last weekend’s result again left captain Kurt Francis and his Benoni lads having to play catch-up from the outset if they are to entertain any hope of winning the league title for just the second time, having been champions two years ago.

In something that is also becoming all too familiar – and something that is becoming a serious problem in this league – Francis lost the toss and the visitors were made to bat first.

The Benoni skipper, though, was not overly unhappy with their batting effort of 233 for the loss of eight wickets in their allotted 50 overs.

That total was thanks largely to opener Ernest Kemm, who top-scored with 41, Stefano Di Bartolomeo’s undefeated 36, Francis’s captain’s knock of 33 and GC Pretorius’s 30.

However, Old Boys’ experienced opener Wesley Coulentianos took the game away from Northerns with a brilliant innings of 113 not out as the home team chased down their target inside 46 overs, for the loss of five wickets.

Benoni fast bowler Shawn Wessels was the pick of the visitors’ attack, claiming two wickets for 31 runs in seven overs, while spinner Pretorius grabbed 2/48 in 9.2 overs.

“I couldn’t fault our batting effort at all,” said Francis.

“We knew that CBC needed one of their frontline batters to score big and that’s exactly what Coulentianos did.

He batted brilliantly and there wasn’t a whole lot we could do to stem his flow of runs.

“They were the better side and deserved to win, but, unfortunately, you simply have to win the toss in this league to give yourselves a chance of winning matches.”

This Sunday, Northerns are at home, for the first time this season, against KT Windies, formerly known as KwaThema.