Leaders pull off another nail biter

Benoni Northerns Cricket Club’s (BNCC) desire to clinch their second Easterns Premier League title in three seasons shone through yet again, on Sunday, February 15.

Kurt Francis and his 2012/13 championship winning team successfully defended a low total for the second week in succession, when they slowly squeezed the life out of Brakpan’s third-placed United Cricket Club in another nail-biter at Northern Areas.

The 38-run, bonus point victory saw Northerns consolidate their healthy lead at the top of the league standings, with four matches of the 2014/15 campaign left to play.

Benoni’s title credentials will be severely tested one final time on Sunday, February 22, when they host second-placed CBC Old Boys – the only team to have beaten them this season, over the opening weekend, way back in early October.

On Sunday, United won the toss and sent their hosts in to bat on a bowler-friendly pitch.

Northerns again lost a clutch of early wickets and stumbled to 60 for five.

Young Stefano di Bartolomeo and the experienced Werner van Lingen got together to pull off a rescue act of note, the former stroking his way to a well-played half-century (52) and the latter adding 33, before the home side were eventually dismissed off the final delivery of the innings for a meagre 171.

“Stef and Werner pulled us out of another big hole nicely,” said skipper Francis.

In reply, United lost wickets regularly and seldom threatened to get close to their target as they were skittled for 133 in the 47th of their allotted 50 overs.

Chief destroyer for Northerns was spinner Ernest Kemm, who normally does damage with bat in hand, as he snaffled three wickets for just 10 runs in 9.2 very tidy overs.

Van Lingen played a support role in taking two for 21 in six overs and all the other bowlers chipped in with wickets to ensure United were always on the back foot.

“It was another good all-round team effort,” added Francis.

Meanwhile, BNCC’s second XI had a bye last weekend, although they had already given up hope of successfully defending their Premier Reserve League title.

Making up for that, however, is Blake Vermeulen’s undefeated Directors League side, who, last Sunday, crushed CBCOB by 121 runs in Boksburg, to open up a virtually unassailable lead at the top of their competition.

The team have now won eight of their 10 matches, with two rain-outs and three games remaining.

At PG Park, CBC sent Northerns in to bat on a lopsided pitch, and a powerful top-order display saw them reach 286 before being bowled out in the 47th over.

Opener Craig Smit scored a fine 80, number four Jaryd Beer a chanceless 74 and number three Justin Taljaard 63, as big early partnerships highlighted the visitors’ innings.

”Old Boys” were then rolled for 165, thanks largely to Man of the Match Liam Meyer, who grabbed five wickets, including a hat-trick, for 17 runs in 6.5 overs, with his medium-pacers.

Skipper Vermeulen weighed in with two wickets, while Tristan Edwards, Brett Dreyer and Joshua Thomas each claimed one.

The BNCC Colts team faced Boksburg on Sunday.

Northerns lost the toss and were put in to put under cloudy skies on a lively pitch.

They were soon in trouble, staring at defeat at 20 for five, but, the middle order staged a gutsy fightback, with Keagan Snalam scoring 60 and Brett Martindale 40.

The lower order chipped in to allow Northerns to reach 190 for eight.

Boksburg started their reply with a brisk stand of 57, before Northerns struck back with quick wickets and disciplined bowling.

The key performers with the ball were Harley Steyn (5/11) and Ian Crawshaw (3/21), as Boksburg were eventually all out for 149, to hand Northerns a fantastic win by 41 runs.