Flying the Eastern Cricket Union’s flag skipper Kurt Francis and his men met United Cricket Club East London (champions of the Border Union) at Irene Villagers Oval and put on an impressive display to beat their coastal opponents by 38 runs.
After losing the toss United captain Kevin Bennett put Northerns in to bat.
Opening batsman Ernest Kemm played a solid innings of 74 runs off 112 deliveries while his partner up front Levon Shields blitzed his way to a quickfire 33 runs of 35 deliveries before he was bowled by Thandolwethu Mnyaka.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Rhenier Jordaan joined Kemm at the crease and the two put on a solid stand before Gionne Koopman got the former’s wicket.
JP Kok entered the fray and played a classy Man-of-the-Match innings of 75 runs off 59 balls (a strike rate of 127.12).
The left-handed batsman’s excellent knock included seven fours and two sixes.
Northerns eventually finished on a score of 182/9 in their 50-over innings.
The United reply with the bat was impressive early on as the East London team quickly notched up 70/1 after 10 overs with thunderous strokes by Bevan Bennett (59 in 72 balls) and Jason van Zyl (21 in 19 balls).
Steady bowling from BNCC’s Mark Robey (who claimed three United scalps) and economical work from spinner Kemm slowed things down out in the middle and allowed Northerns to get back on top as wickets began to fall regularly.
The middle-order United batting slump was somewhat salvaged by the left-handed Koopman (80 not out in 93 balls) , but his stand was not enough to guide his team home.
Robey’s 3/44 in 10 overs were the stand-out bowling figures by a BNCC player while Stefano di Bartolomeo and Lance Humphrey each took a brace of wickets.
Northerns will hope to take the winning form into today’s encounter against the University of Johannesburg in Laudium.
