The drama of the Eastern Cricket Union’s Premier League was showcased on October 21 when Benoni Northerns Cricket Club (BNCC) hosted Alberton Cricket Club at Northern Areas.
It was the first game of the league campaign on home soil for BNCC and it proved to be a welcome yet tense return to their stomping grounds.
Alberton is always a difficult prospect for the Benonians and that again proved to be the case as Northerns snuck to victory by a single wicket.
BNCC’s skipper Kurt Francis won the morning toss and elected to bowl first.
Alberton posted 248/5 in their batting innings, but it could have been significantly less had BNCC’s fielders hung on to some relatively easy catches in the field.
Alberton’s opening batsman, JC Maritz, was one of those who capitalised on being dropped as he scored 52 runs from 77 balls, while Easterns semi-professional Ryan Cartwright top-scored with 62 not out from 60 deliveries.
Although BNCC’s catching was pretty poor, their ground fielding was quite excellent.
WP Myburgh forced two superb run-outs while Phumelelo Masetlane also had a good run-out.
With the bat it was left-handed opener Vaughn Humphrey who led from the top.
His 73 runs from 101 balls were hugely important in the chase, along with a strong partnership with Francis who scored 45 runs.
When both were dismissed it was up to Kundai Matigimu to have a go.
Matigimu’s 33 runs from 26 balls were vital as it steered BNCC closer to the target.
He was backed well by Stefan Jordaan (18 runs from 37 balls) who held on to his wicket nicely with some solid defensive work.
By the 45th over it was left to Jordaan and number 11 batsman Masetlane to hold their nerve and they did just that, guiding Northerns home in 48 overs with a single wicket remaining to give BNCC a second successive win in the league.
Francis described the game as ‘a cracker’.
“Alberton are one of the top sides in the league so to get a win is tough.
“The boys showed good character.
“Our fielding wasn’t at our best, but our ground fielding did pull us back with a few run-outs.
“The pitch was really flat and the outfield was quick so we would have been happy chasing 230.
“We were put under pressure from the start, but Vaughn was brilliant.”
Francis thanked the Northerns crowd who helped get the team through in a tight situation.
Meanwhile, the club’s Premier Reserve team also bagged a second straight win on Sunday.
They downed Alberton at the Lindeque Oval by 100 runs.
Tristan Dunkerley (61 runs) and Luke Holland (59 runs) took BNCC to 244 before the Benoni team bowled out their opponents for 144.
Rhenier Jordaan (4/28 in 10 overs) was too good with the ball for the Alberton batsmen to handle.
Both BNCC teams will be in action in Benoni cricket derbies on October 28 against Actonville Spurs Cricket Club.
The Premier sides meet at Lords Cricket Grounds in Actonville while the Premier Reserve XIs clash at Northern Areas.
The first deliveries are scheduled to be bowled at 10am.
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