Shields, Kruger shine for Northerns
Opening batsman Levon Shields and seam bowler Jaco Kruger were the stand-out performers when Benoni Northerns Cricket Club’s Easterns Premier and Promotion League teams both decimated their respective opponents on Sunday, February 23, as the 2013/14 season nears its end.
Left-hander Shields shone with the willow, as defending league champions Northerns crushed United Cricket Club by nine wickets, in Brakpan, to virtually ensure they would finish the season in second position, behind Kempton Park.
Kruger returned career-best bowling figures of a staggering eight wickets for 20 runs, in 10 stunning overs, including five maidens, as Benoni’s second XI annihilated CBC Old Boys by eight wickets, at Northern Areas, to all but wrap up the Promotion League title.
Both matches were over before lunch.
In Brakpan, Northerns captain Kurt Francis won the toss and had no hesitation in asking the hosts to bat, and United were always struggling as they managed to cobble together just 99 runs before being dismissed in the 36th of an allotted 50 overs.
Middle-order batsman JP Meade was basically the only contributor for United, with almost half of his side’s runs (43 not out).
The destroyers with the ball were Stiaan Jordaan, with an impressive three for 13 in 7.3 overs, Stefano di Bartolomeo (3/41 in 10) and Marlou Moore (2/10 in seven).
In reply, Shields lost his opening partner Stefan Jordaan (11) early, but then took the game by the scruff of its neck by blazing a quick-fire, unbeaten 61 as the visitors powered to their target inside 18 overs for a lopsided, bonus-point victory.
Number three batter Charl Steyn was undefeated on 15 at the end.
At Northern Areas, Kruger announced beforehand that he was going to take seven wickets in the game against CBCOB to celebrate Friday, February 28, as the birth of his first child.
He went one better, however, as the poor visitors — who were sent in to bat by first-time Northerns skipper Shawn Wessels, standing in for the absent Juan Schaerer — were shot out for just 48 runs in the 19th over.
Only two Old Boys batters got into double figures as they failed to cope with the pace and accuracy of Kruger, who was on a hat-trick at one stage.
Therushen Naicker and Andrew Smith denied Kruger a perfect 10, with a wicket apiece.
In the chase, young opener Vaughn Humphrey took the Boksburg team’s attack apart, with an unbeaten 35, that included two sixes and three fours.
Extras (14) provided the next best contribution, as Benoni took little more than half an hour and 8.2 overs to wrap up proceedings before noon.
- Both Northerns teams are involved in interesting one versus two season finales against arch-rivals Kempton, this Sunday, March 2, with the second-placed Premier XI hosting and the league-leading Promotion XI travelling.
