Northerns, Alberton deny Old Boys in T20 opener
Benoni Northerns lived up to their 'favourites' tag when they defeated CBC Old Boys by five wickets in their Eastern Cricket Group B T20 opener in Benoni on October 1.
A total of 134 runs proved enough for the home side, who later limited Old Boys to 130 through outstanding bowling from WP Myburgh whose hat-trick of wickets saw him finish with 3/25 in just 3.5 overs.
Myburgh’s teammate Lance Humphreys also impressed with the leather, finishing with 2/27 in four overs.
Following a rocky start in their batting innings, which saw new incumbent captain Casey Arnold walk back to the shelter for 0, fellow top-order batsman Mark Pearce got CBC’s challenge back on track with his half century.
Sherwin Pillay (26) and Craig Parker (21) helped to make the tie a real contest with their additions but it ultimately wasn’t enough as the local side fell agonisingly short with 130 runs.
In Old Boys’ latter game of the day against Alberton, who had earlier dispatched Boksburg, the heavens had the last laugh as the game went to a Duckworth-Lewis decision.
The local side was sent to the crease first before posting 118 with Tyrone Cameron finishing with an unbeaten 35.
With a healthy score of 72/ 1 after 13 overs in a solid chase, Alberton’s innings with the willow were interrupted by the rain – ending the clash rather early.
They were the beneficiaries of the Duckworth-Lewis rule, winning by 16 runs. – @SabeloBoksburg
