Old Boys off to winning start, rain leaves Boksburg frustrated
The 2017/18 Eastern Premier League season got underway on October 22 and it was a beginning of mixed fortunes for Boksburg’s two representatives
Both CBC Old Boys and neighbours, the Boksburg Cricket Club, were scheduled to travel to KwaThema and Springs respectively.
It was a successful trip for Old Boys as they collected maximum points against a KwaThema side whose batting innings were ruined by a relentless CBC bowling attack.
The hosts were toppled for a mouth-watering 126 after 36 overs by rampant Old Boys bowling.
Former Old Boys captain Willie Bernhardt led the KwaThema demise with his 3/27 after seven overs with the leather. Bernhardt’s teammates, Dan van der Berg, Jaydin Liebenberg and Craig Parker took an additional two wickets each as the hosts were strangled out of the contest.
This resulted in Brian Songo finishing as his team’s highest scorer with 35.
The hosts had won the toss and decided to bat.
The heavens opened up after lunch and the game’s overs were revised to 46 overs and the host’s total consequently reduced to 122 from 126 via the D/ L method.
Top batsmen Dylan Bennie (46) and captain Casey Arnold (36) led the chase in the second innings as they cut into the meagre target.
Sherwin Pillay, Matthew Wright and Van Der Berg added the extras before the partnership of Liebenberg and Parker saw their side through in 30 overs, giving the visitors a three-wicket bonus point win.
q Elsewhere, Boksburg were left frustrated when their second game in three weeks was called off due to a wet pitch.
The local side and hosts Springs Old Boys shared the points.
“It’s extremely frustrating,” said Boksburg skipper Adam Forbes of the setback.
“It would’ve been a result for us.”
