CBC claim big United scalp as title race heats up
CBC Old Boys set the cat among the pigeons when they convincingly beat table leaders United Cricket Club, to blow the Premier League title race wide open.
The home side restricted United to a beatable 117 all-out, after 38 overs, before racing to the 118 target in 31.5 overs, to claim an eight-wicket bonus point win on their home grounds, on Sunday, February 7.
Shaun Liebisch’s men came into the match as the more pressured side, needing a win to stay in the race as United sat pretty on 49 points after 12 rounds of play.
Old Boys didn’t allow external influences affect them as they efficiently went on with their business after winning the coin toss and opting to bowl first.
This proved to be a great decision by skipper Liebisch, as Craig Parker claimed a wicket with his first ball inside the second over of the match.
The opening bowlers continued the tight deliveries, making the visitors work for every single run.
The game-changer, however, was Altus Pretorius picking up a hat-trick of wickets in his very first over, putting United under extreme pressure.
United duo, Justin Gamble (30) and Dylan Rayner (22), offered some resistance against the home side’s no-nonsense bowling attack, but the damage had already been done.
In response, former skipper Willie Bernhardt opened his side’s batting innings in place of Liebisch, who injured his hand fielding.
Bernhardt opened with the on form Dylan Bennie, who again significantly helped to lead Old Boys to the win for the second time in as many weeks.
He top-scored for his side as he hit the half ton mark, before finishing with an unbeaten 52 along with Wickus Germishuizen, who ended with 18 not-out for the win.
Bernhardt and Mark Pearce were dismissed for nine and 21 respectively.
Pretorius was the pick of the bowlers, with 3/7 in six overs, while Bennie followed up his 78 runs against KwaThema with his 52.
The cohesive team performance left Liebisch a pleased man.
“After the departure of Willie [Bernhardt], Dylan [Bennie] stabilised the innings, while Mark [Pearce] and Wickus [Germishuizen] batted around him, playing more aggressively.
“We managed to get through the tough periods and walk away with little damage, securing a bonus point on the way,” summed the skipper.
After 13 rounds of Premier League action, United still lead the way, with Kempton Park just a single point behind, with 48, in second.
Old Boys and defending champion Benoni Northerns are tied at third with 46 points. – @SabeloBoksburg
