United make up for last week’s defeat
After defeat to Kwa-Thema the Sunday prior, United Cricket Club’s Premier XI made amends for that display with a strong showing at home to Eastern Premier League new boys Alberton Cricket Club.
At Hosking Park on Sunday, October 30 captain Justin Gamble’s team achieved a morale boosting 75-run win.
Alberton has been given plenty of respect since their move over from the Gauteng Cricket Board’s league structures and weren’t to be taken lightly by Gamble’s men.
His chargers, however, stepped up well from the disappointment in Kwa-Thema.
After winning the toss and deciding to bat first, the team found themselves in slight trouble with the loss of their top three (Jose van der Berg, Rian van der Merwe and Vaughn Humphrey) with just 28 runs on the score board.
Aidan Justus and Gamble got together at the crease and put on a contained 35-run partnership before the former was bowled for seven.
Gamble stuck around and formed good partnerships with Branden Grutter (20 runs from 46 deliveries) and Dylan Rayner (20 from 14 balls).
The skipper’s 77 runs from 85 deliveries (eight fours and two sixes) proved to be key in the overall result.
United were excellent with the leather and their bowlers combined nicely to wrap up their opponents for 137 in 27.3 overs.
Nico van Zyl was the destroyer-in-chief with bowling figures of 3/33 in his 10 overs, which included three maiden overs.
Rayner also bagged three wickets (3/29 in five overs).
“It was a solid performance and a good way to forget about the game against Kwa-Thema,” said the United skipper.
“The guys put up a solid fight after a shaky start with the bat and then the bowlers gave us the perfect start with the ball.
“We kept the pressure on nicely,” added Gamble.
- Meanwhile, the club’s Promotion XI secured a 33-run win over Actonville on Hosking Park “B”.
The hosts put on 173 runs in 46.3 overs with Ryan Pfeifer top-scoring with 49 runs.
Actonville were bowled out for 140 runs in 27.4 overs.
James De Nysschen was the star with the ball with statistics of 5/26 in seven overs, including three maidens.
Overall it was a perfect weekend for the club with Sunday wins for the Directors League XI (two-wicket win over Alberton) and the Colts XI (a 17-run win over Avion).
On Saturday, October 29 the United Saturday First League side achieved a 31-win over Springs Old Boys and the Women’s XI made light work of Tsakane with an 81-run victory.
