United set for table-topping Kempton
The win gives them a much-needed, morale-boosting lift.
With the first half of the 2016/2017 Eastern Cricket Union Premier League drawing to a close, Brakpan-based United Cricket Club’s Premier XI has found some winning momentum away from their Hosking Park home base.
After some losses they want to forget in recent weeks, the team doubled up on their victory over CBC Old Boys in Boksburg on Sunday, November 20, with another convincing win on their travels – against the other ‘Old Boys’: Springs Old Boys, at Pollak Park on Sunday, November 27.
The win gives them a much-needed, morale-boosting lift and has seen them rise into the top six positions in the elite club league.
The solid batting partnerships that had disappeared in those defeats, have finally returned; particularly in the middle order.
After losing the toss, skipper Justin Gamble’s side was put into bat by his opposite number on a tricky Springs wicket.
Despite the loss of their opening pair with 36 runs on the scoreboard, the batsmen that followed took charge of proceedings.
JP Meade, batting at number three, played a starring role with 59 runs from 79 deliveries.
His skipper, in at number four, was in buoyant mood and hit 49 runs from 31 deliveries (nine fours and a six). That helped form a good partnership of 65 runs before he was dismissed LBW, just a single short of what would have been a second consecutive half-century.
Number five bat Rian van der Merwe didn’t hang around for too long and was removed for 12 runs, before Aidan Justus joined Meade at the crease.
The duo put on 80 runs together, before Meade was caught.
Branden Grutter played a quick-fire innings of 30 runs from 25 balls, that helped steer the team to a score of 277/7 in their 50 overs – at a healthy run-rate of 5.54.
When it was Brakpan’s turn with the ball, there wasn’t much threat to the United score, despite a good Springs third-wicket partnership of 96 runs between Dillan Alberts and Ryan Coetzer.
Gamble enjoyed a good day with the ball too, with his left-arm spin responsible for four Springs scalps.
His figures of 4/18 in six overs were the pick of the bunch, followed by fellow slow bowler Grutter, who achieved figures of 2/39 in 10 overs.
Kevin Hinton, Oswaldo De Sousa, Aidan Justus and Vaughn Humphrey each picked up a stick apiece, as United wrapped up their opponents in the 42nd over for 173 – a 104-run margin.
“Another good result for us,” said Gamble.
“We batted nicely on a tricky pitch with a few guys standing up and putting decent partnerships together.
“Before the batting innings, I thought that 200 would be a good score on that pitch, so to get to 277 was really great going.
“The bowlers did their thing again and we secured a valuable bonus-point win.”
The team will be hoping to end 2016 with another win on Sunday, December 3: at Hosking Park.
Their task is a mammoth one though, as they face table-topping Kempton Park Cricket Club.
The first delivery is scheduled to be bowled at 10am.
• Meanwhile, the club’s Promotion League side also enjoyed a big win, away to Bedfordview.
The team put 300 runs on the board in their 50 overs, with Andre Johnson starring with the willow.
His knock of 144 runs and 63 runs from skipper Ryan Pfeifer, helped the team to the good score.
They wrapped up their opponents for 133 runs in 39 overs, with James De Nysschen (4/16 in nine overs) and Matthew Standen (3/24 in six overs) doing the majority of the damage, to secure a 197-run victory.
Also read: See-sawing United are struggling to find consistency
United make up for last week’s defeat
Wet wicket is a downer for United
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