Justus has no mercy on Tembisa
Wicketkeeper-batsman Aidan Justus steers United Cricket Club to victory.
United Cricket Club’s Premier XI celebrated their first win of the season with a well deserved 86-run victory over Tembisa, on Willowmoore Park’s B-field, on Sunday, October 12.
The win was set up courtesy of a sublime first innings ton from wicketkeeper-batsman Aidan Justus, who played some fantastic shots on his way to a score of 108.
The century was a momentous one for the club, as the 18-year-old Justus is the current longest serving player in the Premier League team.
He has come up through the junior ranks with the old Airfield Youth Cricket Club, which amalgamated with Brakpan Cricket Club at the beginning of the 2008/2009 season, to form United Cricket Club.
Team manager Des Gamble described the knock as a “fitting tribute to a player who has been with the club from day one”.
The team did not, however, have it easy at the start of their innings with the bat.
They were three wickets down early on, on a damp wicket, until number four batsman and team skipper Justin Gamble (38) and number five batsman Justus formed a solid partnership that was instrumental in leading the team to a score of 265 runs in 48.1 overs.
New recruit Riaan van der Merwe also contributed, with a score of 25.
“It was the first time our batting has come together so nicely,” said team manager Gamble.
On the bowling front the team struggled up front against the experienced Tembisa opener, Enock Makamo, who top scored for Tembisa with 40.
Their other batsmen, however, could not save the day and their innings ended in the 36th over, with a score of 179 all out.
United’s bowlers, Kevin Hinton (4/28 in 10 overs) and Dehan Viljoen (3/13 in 2.4 overs), stood out with the ball.
Gamble said the victory has given the team good momentum for the remainder of the season and has lifted the spirits of all the players.
The team will enjoy a bye this weekend, as the league breaks for the Titans’ Momentum One Day Cup game against the Chevrolet Knights, at Willowmoore Park, on Sunday, October 19.
Following the bye-weekend, United will host a strong CBC Old Boys side at Hosking Park, on Sunday, October 26.
The CBC team are coming off a massive victory over defending champions Kempton Park, and the United team are well aware that they will need to take the fight to the current table toppers.
The first delivery of the match will be bowled at 9.30am.
