BNCC come out tops in cricket derby
The Benoni cricket derby took place at Lords Cricket Grounds in Actonville on Sunday, January 31.
It was Benoni Northerns Cricket Club’s (BNCC) Premier XI who again enjoyed derby day success over Actonville Spurs Cricket Club (ASCC).
BNCC, who won the reverse fixture at Northern Areas in November, last year, kept their pursuit of at least a Top Three play-off spot alive with a five-wicket bonus-point victory over their Benoni neighbours on Sunday.
Batting first, Actonville struggled to form any noteworthy partnerships on a slow wicket that provided some variable bounce, despite the best efforts of young top-scorer Mekyle Pillay (45) in the middle order, as they were bowled all out for 145 runs in the 43rd over.
Northerns newcomer and all-rounder, Regardt Verster, who has represented South Africa at u-19 level, showed his skills with the ball as his left-arm spin accounted for three ASCC scalps for 25 runs in his allotted ten overs.
Lee Cothill was equally impressive with the leather as he bagged figures of 3/31 in 9.5 overs, while skipper Kurt Francis delivered a rare spell with the ball as he claimed statistics of 2/13 in three overs.
As the day wore on, the wicket became increasingly difficult to bat on, but Verster held firm with the willow as his score of 48 not out was the main contribution in the chase.
His team managed to reach the target in 36 overs with five wickets in hand to secure a valuable bonus point.
Northerns will host Springs Old Boys at home on Sunday, February 7, while Actonville welcome Duduza to Lords.
- Meanwhile, at CBC College in Boksburg, on the same day, an epic clash ensued between BNCC’s Promotion XI and CBC Old Boys.
BNCC captain Jaco Kruger lost the toss and was asked to bat first on a bowler friendly wicket.
“We lost wickets from the word go,” said the skipper.
“It was not just because of good bowling, but also a result of our batsmen playing their shots on a wicket where they should have been grafting hard and looking for singles.”
They were eventually bowled out in the 34th over for 90 runs.
Zane Dunn played a long innings for the team’s top score of 29 runs, while Matthew Wright (10) was the only other batsman to reach double figures.
Despite two dropped catches in the first three overs, the team’s bowlers came to the party as CBC capitulated as pressure mounted.
They were eventually all out for 84 runs in 31.2 overs to ensure a nail biting victory.
“I have never been more proud to be a captain,
“The guys showed some huge big match temperament and fighting spirit to pull off probably the closest game I have ever been involved in,” added Kruger.
The team will be hoping to take that very same temperament into next weekend’s top of the table clash away to rivals Kempton Park.
