United Cricket start the year with a win
United’s skipper Justin Gamble won the morning coin toss and put his opponents into bat first.
United Cricket Club’s Premier XI were made to work hard for a win in their first match of the year when they hosted Actonville Spurs at Hosking Park on January 14 when the second round of fixtures for the 2017/2018 campaign commenced.
A 74-run partnership between young talent Mekyle Pillay and veteran Clayton August helped steady the innings before Pillay was dismissed for 37 runs from 52 deliveries with the score at 143/6.
They were ultimately bowled out in the 45th over for 173 runs.
Captain Gamble was the star performer with the ball for his team with figures of 4/45 in 8.1 overs.
Xolane Shongwe (2/24 in six overs) and Eden Links (2/31 in 10 overs) were the next best bowlers.
“The wicket was pretty sticky so we sent them into bat.
“It looked quite difficult for their batsmen and we probably should have bowled them out for 120, but a few missed chances from us allowed them to get to 173.”
Also read: Cricket great gone way too soon
With the bat, United lost three wickets early and found themselves at 22/3.
Opening batsman André Johnson, however, was his usual flamboyant self.
Johnson hit 50 runs from 58 deliveries (seven fours and two sixes) at the top of the order but was eventually caught out.
Number five batsman Ernest Mbalane (24 runs), Wickus Germishuizen (36 not out) and Brandon Grutter (23 runs) helped guide the hosts to victory in the 39th over with just two wickets in hand.
“We were a bit shaky with the bat, but André played a good hand and Wickus was solid to knock off the rest of the runs,” said Gamble.
“It was a hard-fought win in the end and I am glad we could start the year with a victory.”
The team’s next match will be a tough away fixture versus Benoni Northerns on January 21.
The first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 10am.
United’s Promotion League XI get their second round of fixtures for the season going when they host Bedfordview at Hosking Park’s A-field on Sunday.
The club’s Directors League team play Vosloorus at Hosking Park’s B-field.
Follow us:
