United win on Duckworth-Lewis method
It’s been a good few weeks for United Cricket Club’s Premier XI.
The team have been on a winning roll recently and, on Sunday, January 25, skipper Justin Gamble’s men were required to wrack their brains and apply some mathematical skill, as they experienced victory by five runs, courtesy of the infamous Duckworth-Lewis method, when rain fell during their encounter with second-placed CBC Old Boys, in the Eastern Premier League.
Batting first, on a morning where the skies were initially clear, the Boksburg-based outfit put on a tremendous display with the bat and posted a big score of 243/7 in their 50-over first innings.
Old Boys’ Nicholas Lockyer played a terrific innings of 66 and was well-supported by Wickus Germishuyzen (59 runs) and Tyrone Cameron (49 runs), while United’s fast bowler, Kevin Hinton, again added to his ever-growing total wicket haul for the season, attaining figures of 2/47 in 10 overs, while the left-arm spin of Gamble accounted for two CBC scalps, for 35 runs in seven overs.
When United’s opening batsmen stepped into the crease dark overhead clouds started forming and confusion started building around what calculation method the umpires would implement.
“We knew that Duckworth-Lewis was the only calculation to use, but it seemed that the umpires would go with a run-rate calculation,” said team manager Des Gamble.
“But, Justin kept his head and instructed the batsmen to stick it out and not lose wickets.
“We knew that we would need a score of between 70 and 80 after 20 overs, without the loss of more than one wicket to win the game on Duckworth-Lewis.”
He added that opening batsmen JP Meade (27) and Zander Els (29 not out) did well to stand firm and build a score, while number-three bat Rian van der Merwe (15 not out) also stepped up and quickly accelerated the score.
There was high drama, as the hosts knew that another wicket would give them the win on Duckworth-Lewis, however, when Easterns semi-professional Wesley Coulentianos dropped a catch in the slips it was the team from Hosking Park who would emerge as winners, as they ended on 79/1 after 22.4 overs, when the heavens opened..
“The pressure of accurate calculations and the inevitable stand-off between the two teams made it extremely nervy,” the team manager said.
After receiving the full points for the win, the club (in fourth place) is increasing its lead over Springs Old Boys.
“With this win we can almost cement fourth position and ensure our safety from relegation,” Gamble added.
“Nobody likes to lose on Duckworth-Lewis, but we did what we needed to do and backed ourselves to win throughout.”
The team now head to Pollack Park, in Springs, in a fortnight, with a huge match against Springs Old Boys on Sunday, February 8.
The league will take a break this weekend, due to the Momentum One Day Cup match taking place between the Unlimited Titans and Bizhub Highveld Lions, at Willowmoore Park, on Sunday, February 1.
