Win proves that team is standing ‘United’

It’s all starting to feel like something of a fairytale for United Cricket Club’s Premier XI.

November 18, 2015

Logan Green 2 minutes read

Tshepo Motaung was the chief destroyer with the cherry for United Cricket Club’s Premier XI, on Sunday.

The players, however, realise and understand that, like any storybook narrative, there will be various development and changes in the script as things progress.

Undefeated in the Eastern Premier League so far, United enjoyed perhaps their most significant win to date (their seventh on the bounce this season) over perennial league powerhouse Kempton Park Cricket Club, by five wickets, on Sunday, November 15.

The match, played at United’s Hoskins Park home base, signified the great strides that have been made at the club since the amalgamation of Brakpan Cricket Club and Airfield Youth Cricket Club (AYCC) at the beginning of the 2008/2009 season, to their current position atop the Eastern Premier League log standings.

Kempton’s skipper, Johan Fourie, won the toss and elected to bat on Sunday morning.

The decision didn’t quite pay off, as United’s bowlers were hungry and determined with ball in hand.

A combined team effort with the leather by the home bowlers and the men in the field forced last season’s runners-up to a score of 141 all out, in 35.3 overs.

Tshepo Motaung was the star of the bowling display, with figures of 4/36 in seven overs, while captain Justin Gamble (2/15 in 3.3 overs), Kevin Hinton (1/21 in six overs), Dylan Rayner (1/30 in seven overs) and Branden Grutter (1/8 in five overs) also picked up sticks.

Young talent Nico van Zyl, making his Premier League debut, was unlucky not to claim any scalps on the day.

His economy rate of 2.86 runs per over (0/20 in seven overs) showcased the hard work he put in to frustrate and restrict the scoring opportunities of the batsmen.

A target of 142 should almost certainly be chased down with relative ease at this elite level of club cricket, but against Kempton it is always a tough task.

Those supporting United were left quivering when three wickets fell early and the team found themselves at 31/3. Gamble and Aidan Justus held strong before lunch, to guide their side through a tricky period.

When Gamble was given out LBW in the 18th over, Justus (36) and Grutter (41) helped nip away at the target.

Following the fall of the former’s wicket at 102/5, it was JP Meade who knuckled down to help Grutter get their team to the target in 32.2 overs, to ensure the fantastic victory.

Team manager Des Gamble said, in the midst of their good run, that the support from the cricketing fraternity has been terrific.

“Our target is to finish in the top three and make the play-offs,” he added.

“It’s great to be at the top, but we aren’t even halfway there yet.

“We await a huge game away to Benoni Northerns, on Sunday, and expect a fight second to none.”