United defeated by ‘well-oiled machine’
Brakpan-based United Cricket Club’s Premier XI faced an extremely difficult encounter against arguably one of the favourites to win the Eastern Premier League, Kempton Park Cricket Club, at home on Sunday, November 17.
Skipper Justin Gamble’s team always knew that the side’s chances of winning the match were extremely slim and, despite losing by seven wickets, there were still some small victories for United that will go a long way in their development.
United batted first at Hosking Park and took to the task at a relatively slow pace, due to some excellent line and length bowling from Kempton Park.
Although the run rate was slow, United’s batsmen managed to keep their intimidating opposition in the field for the full 50 overs.
Brenden Grutter batted for a number of overs as he notched up a half-century to help his club to a score of 161/7, while Dian Moore (19) and Brendon Frost (27) made the only other real contributions to the total.
Kempton Park shuffled their batting around when they took to the crease and gave some of their less experienced batsmen a chance higher up the order.
The away team chased down the score in 35.4 overs, with Jurie Snyman (71 not out) top-scoring for Kempton, followed by Wesley Marshall (50).
Spinner Gamble (2/31) was the best of the United bowlers.
Team manager Des Gamble said: “We lost to the top team in the league, in my opinion.
“They play with almost military precision and bowled such good lines that our batsmen really battled to score runs.”
He added that the team will take positives from the fact that Kempton did not bowl them out and kept them out in the field for the full 50 overs.
“The fact that our bowlers only bowled nine extras was also a positive, considering that they had been bowling tons of extras in games before.
“Kempton Park was a pleasure to play against and an extremely well-oiled machine,” he said.
n In the other game at the club’s Promotion League home ground, St Dunstan’s College, in Benoni, United’s Promotion League team met Duduza.
United were all out for 192 runs in 45 overs, with captain Divan de Beer the best of the batsmen, with a score of 50.
The United bowlers rallied in the second innings and knocked off their opposition for 136 in 31.3 overs, to win the encounter by 56 runs.
Wilber van Dyk was the best of the bowlers and bagged figures of 4/41 in nine overs.
