The team from Hosking Park made the journey to CBC College in Boksburg on Sunday, November 20 for a clash with CBC Old Boys.
Usually both sides would be right up there in the upper tier of the Eastern Cricket Union’s elite club cricket competition, but, in the most unpredictable version of the Premier League to date, they have both found themselves fighting to stay in the Top Eight of the standings to avoid the dreaded drop as the first half of the 2016/2017 season nears completion.
With United bowling first on Sunday, CBC Old Boys got off to a good start with the willow.
Opening bowler Nico van Zyl was excellent with the ball and his economical and miserly figures of 1/16 in 10 overs (two maidens) were instrumental in restricting the hosts to 205/8 in their 50-over batting innings.
Van Zyl was well supported by fellow seamer Tshepo Motaung who didn’t claim a wicket, but bowled tightly.
Slow bowler Aidan Justus picked up 3/19 in three overs, captain Justin Gamble 1/39 in 10 overs, Branden Grutter 1/37 in nine overs and Dylan Rayner 1/34 in six overs.
When United’s batsmen took to the crease they finally put together the batting partnerships that have been lacking in previous matches, despite the loss of two early wickets.
Opener Jose van der Berg found some form with the bat and his 53 runs, along with a good innings of 69 runs from the United skipper and 37 not out from Rian van der Merwe carried the team to a much-needed five-wicket victory in the 47th over.
Gamble said that it was a good all round performance from his men.
“CBC got off to a good start, but we did really well with the ball after the first drinks break to restrict them to 205.
“We lost two wickets relatively early, but after that we had steady partnerships that took us home,” Gamble said.
The team knows that they must win every game from this point on and will aim for nothing less than that when they visit Springs Old Boys on Sunday, November 27.
• Meanwhile, United’s Promotion XI made it a double whammy of victories for the top two senior teams with a six-wicket win over Midrand on Sunday.
