Batting was not an easy thing to do in the derby clash between local rivals Benoni Northerns (BNCC) and Actonville Spurs (ASCC) cricket clubs at Lords Cricket Grounds in Actonville on March 4.
Heading into the match at the top of the Eastern Premier League One table, Northerns were undoubted favourites to pip their cross-town rivals.
They managed to achieve that with a bonus point, 87-run win over their hosts, but it wasn’t exactly smooth sailing as a slow pitch and outfield made scoring difficult.
Batting first after losing the toss, Northerns got to 179/9 in their 50-over innings thanks mainly to a half-century from opener Ernest Kemm.
Actonville slow bowlers CJ van der Walt (4/48 in 10 overs) and Imraan Manack (3/20 in 10 overs) made life difficult for the Northerns willow-wielders.
In their reply Actonville were bowled out for 88 in 37.4 overs.
Northerns’ Stefano di Bartolomeo bagged three wickets for 15 runs while Phumelelo Masetlane achieved a rare feat by claiming a hat-trick.
It was not just any random hat-trick either.
Masetlane claimed the wickets of Easterns semi-professionals Manack, Clayton August and ASCC captain Mekyle Pillay.
He bagged figures of 3/20 in eight overs.
Northerns maintain their one-point advantage at the top of the league over second-placed Alberton.
Speaking about the result, BNCC skipper Kurt Francis said: “We always knew it was going to be tough going to Actonville, and Sunday proved it again.
“Our ‘stonewall’, Ernie, stuck through the innings and played a great knock to get us to the total, and then with the ball great individual brilliance from Phumi who got three massive wickets which won the game for us.
“All the boys know that we need to continue with the performances with four games to go, to stay on top before the play-offs.”
ASCC skipper Pillay said: “Again the result didn’t go our way.
“I thought the bowlers did an exceptional job restricting the visitors to a modest total.
“Our batting failed again, there’s no sugar-coating it.
“It is definitely something that will be discussed in the change room.
“The last few games have been a bumpy road for us, but I back the boys to turn things around.”
Pillay’s team will host Bedfordview at Lords on March 11, while Francis and his men face a tough prospect in Brakpan-based United Cricket Club at Hosking Park.
LISTEN to the Caxton Radio Benoni weekend sports wrap to hear from Francis:
https://soundcloud.com/benoni-city-times/logie-g-sports-wrap-march-5
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