‘Small negative in hugely positive win’

There were many positives to take from the match for skipper Justin Gamble’s team, as they posted their highest ever Premier League total of 297/4 in 50 overs.

The major positive for the Brakan-based side was that the top five batsmen, unlike their opening two encounters, batted through most of the innings and got to work in setting a large target.

Talented Easterns semi-professional Eden Links, who scored the club’s third ever Premier League century against Springs Old Boys on October 4, returned to the side from provincial duties and continued where he left off, by batting his way to a second Premier League ton (107 runs).

He was ably backed by Rian van der Merwe, who notched up 77 runs and 51 not out from Gamble (his second consecutive half-century).

The one negative that will give the United team food for thought will be the way in which they defended their score with the ball.

KwaThema batted well and denied the home side a bonus-point win, by batting into the 46th over and eventually getting bowled all out for 248, which ensured a 49-run victory for the hosts.

Dylan Rayner was the pick of the United bowlers, with figures of 4/52, while Gamble bagged statistics of 2/35 with his left-arm spin.

According to team manager Des Gamble, KwaThema got too close for comfort to the target set by the batsmen.

“It is a small negative in an otherwise hugely positive scenario,” he said.

He praised the team for being an “absolute breath of fresh air” in their first three matches of a league that is getting increasingly competitive.

The team now look forward to their clash with Actonville Spurs, at Lords Cricket Grounds, in Actonville, on Sunday, October 25.

• Meanwhile, the club’s Promotion League team wrapped up a six-wicket win over Duduza, on the Hoskins B-field, on Sunday.

The team bowled out their visitors for 55 runs in 20 overs, due to some excellent bowling from Nico van Zyl, who picked up seven wickets for 25 runs.

The team chased down the score in 10.3 overs, but will be disappointed to have lost four wickets in the process.

The club’s Director’s team defeated Kempton Park B by three runs, while the young guns in the Colts A side defeated Avion Park by 155 runs.

The Colts B side lost by 95 runs to Springs Old Boys.

• The club’s women’s side did mega damage to Tsakane, on Saturday, October 10, with a massive 327-run victory.

Adele van Eck bludgeoned 104 not out, while Kyla Styles (67) and Jessica Poley (56) also batted well.

They bowled out their opponents for 37 runs after just 11 overs.