Ahmed Bharoochi and James Nelson scored an unbeaten 102 for the sixth-wicket to lead the CBC Crusaders to a five-wicket win against Actonville Spurs Veterans to extend their winning streak to six games in the Eastern Storm Veterans League (ESVL) on August 4.
The duo rescued their team from the brink of defeat after a top and middle-order collapse.
Bharrochi led from the front with 71 off 62, including 10 fours, and Nelson added a quick-fire 57 off 34, including six boundaries and two maximums, as the Crusaders reached their target inside 22 overs.
Chasing 152, Bharrochi and his opening partner, Brett Luck (16 off 21), added 32 for the first wicket before the latter’s luck ran out when Muhammed Zakariyya Moola (4/33) trapped him LBW in the seventh over.
Moola’s rampant streak continued when he struck twice in the ninth over, first trapping Willie Bernhardt for a silver duck before bowling Andre Lombard, also for a silver duck, two balls later.
Floors Mynhardt only added six runs to the scoreboard before Moola had him caught by Fadeem Mia and Mohammed Ejaz added to the onslaught after trapping Andre Johnson for a duck, as the Crusaders found themselves with their backs to the wall on 51-5 inside 14 overs.
But Bharoochi and Nelson teamed up for the sixth-wicket to add 102 off just 56 balls to drive their team to 153/5, winning their sixth league match on the trot to remain on top of the log.
Earlier, Brandon Reddy’s unbeaten 65 off 38, which included four boundaries and five sixes, was in vain as Sunny Letshele and Christoff Visser’s tore through the Spurs’ top and middle orders to restrict them to 152 all out.
Letshele took 5/35 and Visser ended with 3/36 while Johan Fourie and Bernhardt took a single wicket each.
Fourie began the rampage with the wicket of Mohsin Patel in the second over before Visser dismissed Mark Naik, Rashed Mia and Pravesh Darman as Spurs found themselves limping on 46-4 after 10 overs.
Letshele got in the mix with the wickets of Suleiman Ghanchi, Himmet Parbhoo, Ejaz, Muhammed Wadia and Fadeem Mia and Bernhardt removed Julian Naik to skittle out their opponents for 152 inside 26 overs.
Other results:
• Elsburg Eagles 231/5, Alberton Legends 147/5. Elsburg won by 84 runs
• Sunward Tigers 94/10, Benoni Scimitars 95/2. Scimitars won by 8 wickets
• CBC Capitals 151 all out, Bedfordview Polly’s 155/2. Bedfordview won by 8 wickets
• Calypso Legends 197/9, Kempton Park CC Renegades 103 all out. Calypso won by 94 runs
• Springs Old Boys 170/7, Benoni Sabres 172/3. Sabres won by 7 wickets
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