Ten out of 10 performances

Sunday, November 30, was a day that will live long in the memories of everyone connected to Benoni Northerns Cricket Club (BNCC).

It will be remembered as the day on which the club’s Premier XI pulverised their arch enemies, defending champions Kempton Park, by a remarkable 10 wickets, in an Easterns Premier League clash at Kempton, earning the Benoni side their biggest victory over their northern neighbours in living memory.

It was also the third successive season that Northerns has defeated Kempton away from home.

That was the icing on the cake and prompted wild, and long, celebrations at the Northerns clubhouse on Sunday night as, earlier in the day, BNCC’s second side clobbered United Cricket Club by exactly the same comprehensive margin in a Premier Reserve League contest, in Brakpan.

At Kempton, Benoni captain Kurt Francis said that, having won the toss, he was in two minds whether to bat or bowl, as the Barnard Stadium pitch was as dry as he had ever remembered it.

Taking the safety-first option, the home side were asked to bat first and it proved a good call, as Northerns leg-spinner GC Pretorius came to the party by snaffling five wickets for 40 runs in his 10 overs, as Kempton were rolled for a meagre 153 in the 35th over.

“GC was absolutely brilliant,” said Francis.

“He turned it miles and was really skilful in his execution.”

Lee Cothill stood up for the pacemen, grabbing three for 34 in 6.4 overs, while seamer Stefano Di Bartolomeo and spinner Ernest Kemm each took a wicket.

Enter Benoni’s opening batsmen, Kemm and JP Kok, and, before Kempton knew what had hit them, it was wham, bam, thank you ma’am, the target chased down without the loss of a wicket inside 34 overs.

Carrying their bats through the innings, Kemm and Kok ended undefeated on 74 and 66 respectively as a sensational bonus point win was achieved.

“It [the pair’s batting performance] was something special to watch,” added Francis.

It could have been an even more lopsided victory had the visitors not put down two catches when they had their foot on Kempton’s throat at 110/9.

The Northerns skipper was, nonetheless, thrilled with a memorable win that kept his side in touch with league leaders CBC Old Boys – the only team the Benonians have lost to so far this season, which reaches its half-way point this Sunday, December 7, when Francis and company host Duduza.

• At Hosking Park, in Brakpan, Northerns captain Juan Schaerer won the toss and inserted United, who had absolutely no answer to the visitors’ varied attack and succumbed for just 67 runs in the 22nd over.

Spinner Schaerer led by example in claiming three for 15 in 4.4 overs, while Andrew Smith (a stunning 3/12 in six overs) and Shawn Wessels (2/20 in seven) also shone with ball in hand.

Northerns then fairly raced to their victory target in less than eight overs, openers Vaughn Humphrey (21*) and Kyle Scheepers (36*) leading their side to a deserved bonus point win that kept the defending champions two points clear of Kempton at the top of the table.

The match was over so early that Schaerer and his teammates had time to drive across to Kempton to watch their first side thumping the “enemy”.

With BNCC’s Directors’ League and First Saturday sides also winning handsomely, away to Springs Old Boys and United respectively, it was certainly a memorable weekend for the Benoni club.