Bitter-sweet start to Boksburg’s T20 campaign
It was a bitter-sweet day for the Boksburg Cricket Club as the Eastern Cricket T20 tournament got under way on Sunday, January 22.
The home side was scheduled to face the Kempton Park Promo side in the morning clash before locking horns with Avion in the day’s late encounter.
Played at a neutral venue at Alberon High, the local side made a great start to the day as they limited Kempton to 81 all-out inside the allotted 20 overs, with Hein Cronje (3/16) standing out in the bowling stakes.
In their batting innings, Boksburg made a swift recovery after losing their skipper John Haywood (1) early on.
All of Johan Nel (33), Derek Brand (21), Adam Forbes (unbeaten 8) and Tyron Cameron (undefeated 6) ensured the win as Boksburg raced to the target and beati it in just 14.3 overs for the handsome win.
It was a much tighter and intense affair in the afternoon clash.
United put themselves in a great position for the win after totalling 146 in their allotted overs, led by top-order hitter Riaan van der Merwe, who scored a half-century before ending with 54.
United’s total could have been lesser, however, had Boksburg made their catches.
A fired-up Boksburg side was not going to lie down and be defeated as it made a credible chase and scared United as the game went to its very last over.
United, boosted by accurate catching and tight fielding, managed to hang on for a seven-run win, with Boksburg totalling 140 runs.
United’s Dean Crouse took a hat-trick of wickets (3/22; one maiden) while Boksburg’s Derek Brand also scored a half ton (51).
