The Springs Old Boys Cricket Club (SOB) junior teams won their games played across the East Rand on November 15.

The club shared with the Springs Advertiser that the SOB Impala junior teams delivered a strong set of performances over the weekend across several age groups.

In the U10 match between the SOB Impala team and CBC Old Boys Cricket Club at Boksburg, CBCOB scored 110 runs.

The best bowlers for SOB were Ruben Serrao, who bowled 2 overs for 8 runs and 3 wickets, and Marko du Plessis, who bowled 2 overs for 4 runs and 3 wickets. Their efforts did not give Boksburg a chance, as they kept the opposition to 110 all out.

SOB won with good batting from Michael Luke Kotze, who was not out on 40 runs, and Sion Crause, who contributed 30 runs, resulting in SOB winning by 9 wickets. Coach Michael Kotze told the publication that it was a solid team effort.

He said the players showed great discipline and confidence, and it was enjoyable to watch them execute the basics well. He also said his team focused on tighter fielding and clearer communication.

“The boys stuck to their roles, and it made a big difference that catches win matches. We remind them to have fun, support one another, and celebrate small improvements. Their passion for the game keeps them going,” said Kotze.

In the U12 encounter between SOB Impala and Vosloorus Cricket Club at Veritas College, SOB batted first and scored 175 runs.

The best batsmen were Dante de Beer with 50 runs and Petrus Labuschagne with 29 runs. Strong bowling followed, led by Sebastian Stratford with two overs for three runs and two wickets, and Hanru du Plooy with two overs for eight runs and two wickets.

With all the other bowlers picking up a wicket, they bowled out Vosloorus. SOB won by 157 runs. The team’s coach, Lourens Pieters, shared that his team was happy about the win, as it allowed them to leave a bit earlier to continue with their studies for the school exams.

He said some of the bowlers from the Vosloorus U12 Impala team surprised him, adding that they had good pace and their spinners bowled good lengths, resulting in many dot balls.

Pieters said, “SOB’s batting depth allowed them to see out the bowling attack and apply a lot of pressure on Vosloorus’s fielding abilities. I would have liked to face a full squad from Vosloorus, as only 9 players were available to play.”

He also said the club was blessed with a talented bunch of boys in this U12 Impala team. This allows him, as coach, to alter the players in batting and bowling positions without being too worried about the outcome.

The team will play next week in Kempton Park in its first away game of the season. The coach said that the flip of the coin next Saturday would most probably determine their batting or bowling line-up.

In the U12 match at Willowmore, SOB Sibali went narrowly down by 5 runs against Alberton in a closely contested game. Alberton finished with 135 runs, and SOB replied with 131. The best batsman was Pieter Faul with 26 runs, and the best bowler was Ruben Kruger, who bowled two overs for 15 runs and one wicket.

During the U14 match at Veritas College, against Wattville Cricket Club, SOB Impala set 300 runs, on the back of 80 from Michael Kelder and a dominant 100 not out by Josh Faber. All eight bowlers who took to the field for SOB picked up a wicket. SOB won this encounter by 230 runs. The senior teams’ games were washed out.