The Eastern Cricket fixture took place on a beautiful, sunny Sunday afternoon on November 27.
Sent to bat first after losing the coin toss, Boksburg captain Len Meyer and his teammates struggled to get going behind the crease and failed to produce solid partnerships that would at least trouble the home side.
A lot was expected from the visitors, who have been bolstered by new players within their ranks and have made an impressive start to this campaign.
Boksburg also came into the encounter at the back of a win – unlike their cross-street rivals.
Yet it was CBC who showed more grit in their overall performance.
A stable collective bowling show helped limit Boksburg to a possible mountain to climb from a CBC perspective and in the end CBC skipper Nicholas Lockyer and his troops managed to climb the proverbial mountain with rather surprising ease.
Mpho Nzimande and Jean Rossouw took a brace of wickets each – finishing with (2/6) and (2/35; two maidens) respectively.
Meanwhile, all of Casey Arnold, Stefano di Bartalomeo, Jaydin Liebenberg and Carlton Johnson nicked further wickets each.
“It was a good win for us,” said Lockyer.
“I feel that our biggest factor to winning was the mentality and thought process of the guys leading up to the game. We have had a hard look at ourselves and we know we are way better than where we are sitting on the log now.
“The guys knew it was a must-win game and the boys really put their hands up and took control, which was something special for me because I know the talent we have in the side and it was good to see that talent come out.”
Borrowing from the captain’s words, it was his teammate, Casey Arnold, who put his hand up highest as his knock of 71 all but won it for CBC. After finally losing him, CBC had also lost Bryce Parsons and Nzimande before Wickus Germishuizen’s unbeaten 37 and Justin Smallcombe’s standing 17 saw them across the winning line with 163/3 inside 34 overs.
“One of those tosses, win the toss, win the game,” lamented Boksburg’s Meyer.
“Unfortunately I lost the toss and was asked to bat first. Wicket was really difficult because of all the moisture in the pitch hence our slow batting rate. Must still give CBC credit, they bowled well and gave us nothing.” – @SabeloBoksburg
