Gaining experience on Saturdays
In an effort to improve the performances of the Premier League XI and to build a spirit of camaraderie in the overall camp, United Cricket Club’s First Saturday side have incorporated a number of the club’s Premier players into their set-up.
The team also include players from the lower-level Sunday cricket leagues, such as the President’s League, to gain experience against quality opposition.
The club got the idea from reigning Premier League champions Kempton Park Cricket Club, who have had great success over the years in building teams and club spirit by combining Premier League players with those in the lower tiers.
According to Des Gamble, team manager of United Cricket Club’s Premier XI, everybody at the club now has the opportunity to play against high level opposition, as some of the less experienced players do not have the chance to play against players of a higher calibre.
The team played their second game in the league on Saturday, October 18, against a Kempton Park team who included the likes of all-time leading run scorer at the National Club Championships, Johan Fourie.
The team suffered a loss to CBC Old Boys the previous weekend and did well to defeat the Kempton team on Saturday.
Batting first, Kempton scored 146/9 in their 35 overs, a score which was chased down by United in the 32nd over, for the loss of just six wickets.
Premier League skipper Justin Gamble scored an unbeaten 70 runs and got some much needed time in the middle, ahead of the Premier League fixture, at home, to CBC Old Boys, on Sunday, October 26.
The CBC team have defeated last year’s runners-up, Benoni Northerns, and defending champions Kempton Park, in their first two matches of the season.
That match will begin at 9.30am on Sunday.
