United beaten in Boksburg
Boksburg’s skipper Adam Forbes won the morning coin toss and elected to bat first.
Brakpan’s United Cricket Club travelled to Boksburg’s Prince George Park on October 21 for their second 2018/2019 Eastern Premier League clash of the season.
After a 15-run victory a fortnight prior in their opening home fixture against Bedfordview Cricket Club at Hosking Park, the team were hoping to double up on those winning ways on Sunday.
Unfortunately, for skipper Justin Gamble and his United team, it was not to be as they succumbed to Boksburg by a 30-run margin.
The hosts were bowled out for 182 runs in 38.3 overs and United was confident that they could chase down the score.
Adrian de Vries was sublime with the ball for the Brakpan visitors on the day with bowling figures of 4/31 in 10 overs.
“We bowled decently,” said Gamble.
“Adrian bowled really well and we were happy with 183.”
United’s happiness soon turned to sadness in the chase as they struggled to form significant batting partnerships as steady wickets throughout the innings continued to peg them back.
Also read: United scrape to opening day win
New signing Anton Muller (44 runs from 49 deliveries) and Juandre Johnson (33 runs from 54 balls) offered the only real impetus with the willow from the United batsmen as they were bowled all out within 37.4 overs for 152.
“We never recovered properly despite good efforts from Juandre and Anton,” said the United skipper.
“We just needed a few more of the guys to put their hands up.”
Gamble added that his team needs to focus and bounce back when they host Duduza at Hosking Park on October 28.
While the United Premier League XI was disappointed in defeat, their Premier Reserve League side enjoyed total domination over Boksburg in their fixture at Hosking Park on Sunday.
The United team smashed 352 runs in their 50-over batting innings with Anthony Kruger scoring 147 runs in the batting innings.
Kruger then followed up his heroics with the bat with an incredible bowling display.
He picked up seven wickets for 14 runs in five overs to almost singlehandedly win the match for his club.
Boksburg was bowled all out for 90 runs in 17.2 overs, a mammoth 262-run difference.
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