Not a great day away in Alberton
Batting first, the host team took advantage of some poor fielding from their visitors as they blazed their way to a big score of 294 runs.
After a hammering of Tembisa the weekend before Brakpan-based United Cricket Club’s Premier League XI travelled to the Lindeque Oval in Alberton for a tough encounter against Alberton Cricket Club on November 18.
The Alberton opening pair of JC Maritz (56 runs) and AD Gagiano (91 runs) led the charge up front.
United spinner Branden Grutter was the chief wicket-taker for United with three wickets, although he was a tad expensive (his figures were 3/80 in 10 overs).
Dylan Rayner bagged a brace of wickets with figures of 2/22 in three overs while team skipper Justin Gamble (1/32 in 10 overs), Anton Muller (1/46 in seven overs) and Adrian de Vries (1/30 in seven overs) got their names in the wicket column.
In their reply with the bat United could never really get it going.
A top score from the captain of 43 runs was the best score that a batsman could muster on the day as the United team were bowled all out for 245 runs, a 44-run defeat to Alberton.
Also read: United outclass Tembisa at home
“We weren’t at our best on Sunday,” said the United captain.
“Our bowling and fielding let us down.
“We bowled way too many extras and should have been able to hold them to a score of around 230 which would have been around par.
“With the bat we had a few decent partnerships, but we just lacked that one player who could go on and get a big score.
“Lots of guys got themselves in and then just got out at the wrong times.
“We do have a few positives to take out of the game though.
“The youngsters are starting to gel well into the team and we are showing good signs for the future.
“We will need to be exceptional in all three departments for the next two games to give us the best possible results going into the festive break.”
United’s next clash will be a tough one away to Benoni Northerns Cricket Club at Northern Areas in Benoni on November 25.
Northerns are unbeaten in the league thus far and it will take a special performance from Gamble and the team to spoil their winning momentum.
The first delivery is scheduled to be delivered at 10am on Sunday.
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