CBC crumble against Northerns
Christian Brothers’ College’s Premier XI folded in their top-of-the-table Eastern Cricket Premier League home match against defending champions Benoni Northerns.
CBC handed Benoni a comfortable seven-wicket bonus point win.
Sent in to bat first, having lost the pre-match coin toss, the home side surprisingly fell apart in their batting innings and lost wickets at regular intervals. The collapse saw Ruan Liebisch top-score for his side with 14.
The champions bowled out the hosts for 105 after 42 overs, with Stefano di Bartolomeo (3/20; two maidens) and Lee Cothill (3/23; one maiden) both taking a hat-trick of wickets.
Lance Humphrey and Stiaan Jordaan took two wickets apiece.
The pick of the bowlers for CBC was Keith Bennie, who took a hat-trick of wickets of his own before finishing with 2/23 and two maidens in eight overs.
It was too little to influence the outcome of the game, however, as opening man Ernest Kemm (unbeaten 34) and Mathew Wright (undefeated 13) steered Northerns to the win.
The visitors scored 107/3 in 25 overs for the win. Their wickets lost included Rhenier Jordaan, Shane Nel and Mark Robey.
Credit must be given to Northerns, who are showing why they’re champions, as they are peaking at just the right time ahead of the league semi-finals scheduled for Saturday, April 2, at Willowmoore Park.
The semis will see the first-placed side on the table (likely to be United Cricket Club or Northerns), face number four on the log, likely to be CBC.
The other semi-final match will pit second against third.
The final will be played the following day, with the winner guaranteed a place in the club championships.
