It has been a tough fortnight on their travels for Brakpan’s United Cricket Club Premier League XI who sustained another loss against strong opposition in the Eastern Premier League after defeat to Alberton Cricket Club away on November 18.
Skipper Justin Gamble lost the toss and was put in to bat by his opposite number.
It was a move that would bear fruit for the home team’s captain, Kurt Francis, as the Northerns wicket proved tough to bat on from the offset for the United willow-wielders.
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A barrage of good bowling from the Benonians had the Brakpan side in trouble early at 39/5.
Number four batsman Gamble and number seven batsman André Johnson then met up at the wicket and put together the only good partnership (88 runs) that the visitors could muster.
Gamble scored a gritty half-century (51 runs from 93 deliveries) while the usually explosive Johnson (who had dropped down the batting order to offer some added impetus) made 43 runs from 71 deliveries.
The skipper was eventually dismissed and the United tail couldn’t wag.
Northerns picked up the remaining four wickets for just nine runs, United all out within 37 overs for 138 runs.
With the ball, United’s Adrian de Vries managed to pick up three wickets while Anton Muller got a wicket.
Despite their four wickets lost, Northerns opener and former United man Vaughn Humphrey got his team over the line quickly with 76 runs from 52 balls.
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“We were poor all round on Sunday,” said Gamble.
“With the bat we only had two guys get into double figures and only one meaningful partnership.
“The wicket was not easy to bat on so we thought that 200 would be a good score, but regular wickets falling and some poor shot-selection left us well short of that.
“With the ball, our disciplines were off again.
“Too many extras and mistakes in the field cost us again this week.
“We were totally outplayed and we’ll need to bounce back this week because we are a much better team than we showed on Sunday.”
The fixture list doesn’t get any easier for United.
Their next encounter sees them head to Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park to play the defending champions, Kempton Park Cricket Club.
The first delivery is set to be bowled at 10am on December 2.
It will be their last clash of the first half of fixtures as the league breaks for the festive season.
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