Slow wicket ensures tough encounter

Old Boys won the toss and opted to field against their hosts, on a slow wicket that contributed to Spurs losing three wickets early into their innings.

At 23/3 new signing Charles Prinsloo (33) and Easterns player Praveshan Chetty (25) put up a 71-run partnership.

Actonville’s middle and lower order never took advantage of that partnership, though, and the team were bowled out for a disappointing 114 runs.

Gert van Zyl was the destroyer-in-chief for the visitors, with excellent bowling figures of 4/19.

CBC Old Boys began their chase and, as with Actonville, lost wickets early on and were in trouble at 16/3, during the lunch break.

At the resumption of play, Actonville skipper Clayton August and his bowlers got stuck into the CBC batsmen and reduced their score to 46/6.

Stubborn resistance from Dylan Bennie (15) and Willie Bernhardt (19) brought the away side closer to the target, despite the home side’s bowlers taking wickets at regular intervals.

With the match finely poised at 91/9, Jean Rossouw (29 not out) carried his team over the line and CBC won by a single wicket.

August (4/22) continued his excellent form with the ball and was the star performer with the leather for Actonville, while Hussain Shakeel Ahmed 2/24 and Praveshan Chetty 2/20 also stood out.

“If there is anything that can be learned from this defeat it’s that this group of Actonville Spurs players have adopted a never-say-die attitude and will fight on right to the end,” said club public relations officer Zunaid Seedat.

“There are defeats and there are victories within those defeats.

“The victory here is the camaraderie and the spirit that these lads have shown.

“The club is extremely hopeful of a good finish to the Premier campaign and we are proud of the team’s unity on and off the field.”