Derby day bragging rights for Northerns
Defending Easterns Premier League champions Benoni Northerns Cricket Club (BNCC) kept up their pursuit of log leaders Kempton Park with a six-wicket, bonus-point derby victory over Actonville Spurs Cricket Club, at Northern Areas, on Sunday, January 19.
In a match reduced from 50 to 46 overs a side due to morning rain, the visitors were asked to bat first by Benoni captain Kurt Francis and, despite a relatively good start, they managed to set their local rivals a target of only 150 runs, after being dismissed in the 38th over.
Opener Logan Fortuin, a former BNCC player, scored a fine 34, while number seven batsman Clayton August top-scored with 38 in the only significant knocks of the innings.
Former Tuks captain Ernest Kemm was the star of the Northerns bowling performance, with unbelievable figures of three wickets for nine runs in his five overs.
He was ably supported by JP Kok, GC Pretorius and Lance Humphrey, who each grabbed two wickets.
In reply, Northerns fairly cantered to their victory target inside 35 overs as a result of dropped catches from the Actonville fielders.
Man of the Match Kemm led the way with a top score of 39.
Fellow opener Levon Shields weighed in with 31, skipper Francis with an undefeated 25, Pretorius with 24 and Charl Steyn with an unbeaten 19.
The pick of the Actonville bowlers was August, who claimed two for 22 in nine overs.
- BNCC’s Promotion League side continued their impressive run on the same day, courtesy of an 89-run, bonus-point victory away to Springs Old Boys, that kept the Benonians clear at the top of the standings.
In tricky batting conditions, Northerns, whose captain Juan Schaerer lost the toss, did well to get to 199 before being bowled out in the 44th of their allotted 45 overs.
It was a good effort considering the visitors were in a hole at 85 for five, at one stage.
A middle-order captain’s knock of an unbeaten 71, however, from the on-form Schaerer, off 105 balls, including seven boundaries, after a fighting 29 by opener Stefan Jordaan and 24 from number three bat Vaughn Humphrey, got them to a defendable total.
“It was a tough pitch, with batting made difficult in the morning, because of rain, and we had to work hard for our runs; 200 at the end was a good score,” said Schaerer.
Benoni’s bowling effort was also a solid one, as they skittled the Springs side for just 110 in the 31st over.
Spinner Stiaan Jordaan, Stefan’s twin, was the spearhead of the attack, with remarkable figures of four for 13 in four overs, while seamer Jaco Kruger weighed in with 3/37 in eight overs.
- This Sunday, January 26, BNCC’s Premier XI travel to Boksburg, and the Promotion side host Daveyton at Northern Areas.
