Northerns clinch nail-biter

The nail-biting two-wicket victory saw Kurt Francis and his Benoni team remain unbeaten in defence of their very first league title after just two matches in the 2013/14 season, following the previous week’s home drubbing of Duduza.

At Springs, the home side batted first and did well to reach 198 runs for the loss of eight wickets in their allotted 50 overs, on a difficult pitch for batting.

Brilliant all-rounder Ernest Kemm, who joined Northerns at the beginning of the new season from Tukkies, again shone as the spearhead of the Benoni side’s attack as the spinner claimed four Old Boys wickets for just 29 runs in his 10 overs.

Kemm was ably backed up by paceman Lee Cothill (1/26 in seven overs) and another new face, Stefano Dibartolomeo (1/16 in five).

In reply, Northerns also struggled somewhat on the tricky track, losing wickets at regular intervals.

However, big-hitting left-hander Levon Shields, returning to BNCC’s Premier XI this season, after a year’s break, weighed in with a brilliant half-century (51) and skipper Francis contributed a fine 32 as the visitors reached their target, also with eight wickets down, after 42 overs.

“It was a good win on a very difficult batting pitch,” said Northerns coach Thys van Lingen.

“I’m proud of the way my players hung in there and gutsed out the victory.

“It was good for them to be really tested so early in the season, so that they don’t become complacent.”

On the same day, there was less good fortune for BNCC’s gutsy Promotion League side, as they lost a humdinger by one wicket to Springs Old Boys’ Second XI, in a match that appeared to be heading for an embarrassing defeat for the Benonians.

Strangely, Northerns skipper Ryan Pfeifer won the toss and opted to bat first on a shocker of a Northern Areas ‘A’ pitch, and the home side were always in trouble as they scratched together 111 runs before being skittled.

Dean von Ruben top-scored with 27 runs on a cracking track that saw a few balls pop and some even roll.

Defending such a low score was always going to be tough and, despite their openers putting on a half-century partnership, Old Boys crumbled when Pfeifer brought on his spinners and the visitors laboured to their target for the loss of nine wickets.

Stiaan Jordaan was brilliant as he took five for 24 in 8.3 overs, while Nicholas Govender grabbed 3/33 as a battling Benoni side came up just short of what would have been a sensational victory.

Pfeifer, however, was far from happy afterwards.

“After what seemed like some rough or even biased decisions, I found out that [umpire] Lionel Joubert is Old Boys player Mark Joubert’s father,” Pfeifer said.

“So the dad, who is very involved with Springs Old Boys umpired our game, which we narrowly lost.

“Two definite lbw decisions and a catch were turned down as it went down to the wire.”

This Sunday, October 20, BNCC’s Premier XI host Boksburg, while the Promotion XI go to Boksburg to play CBC Old Boys.