Old Boys Premier XI claim tough win
CBC Old Boys’ Premier XI continued with their impressive start to the current Eastern Cricket campaign with a hard-fought three-wicket victory over Kwa-Thema (KT) Windies at Willowmoore B ground in Benoni on Sunday, November 16.
With skipper Willie Bernhardt winning the pre-match toss for the home side, Windies were sent to bat first in the limited overs encounter.
The match got under way at 11.45am, two hours later than the normal starting time for Premier League matches due to the previous day’s rain, and thus had to be limited from 50 to 35 overs.
With the pitch still wet by game time, both sides struggled to generate any momentum behind the bat.
Instead, it was a day for the bowlers.
Windies’ Njabulo Zondi hit 40 for his side’s highest score as the home side stumbled to their 139-out score in all their overs. Zondi was leading man for his side in the bowling stakes as well, claiming 3/33 in seven overs, including a sole maiden.
With the task of claiming the bonus point made trickier by the limited overs and wet pitch, Old Boys reached the 140 target in 31.2 overs, 3.2 overs more than the required 28-overs (80 per cent of 35) to claim the bonus point.
“We needed to get the score (target) in 28 overs but failed as we lost too many wickets at regular intervals,” lamented Bernhardt.
CBC bowler Dalton Smalberger produced a standout performance for his side, claiming a massive 5/18 in seven overs, including two maidens.
Smalberger’s teammate George Viviers, claimed 2/31 also in seven overs before watching his side score 142/ 7 for the win.
Old Boys sit atop on the summit with 24 points after six games, albeit having played one more than their closest rivals Benoni Northerns and Kempton Park, who have 20 and 19 points respectively- @SabeloBoksburg
