Local captains Arnold, Forbes reflect on cricket season
Benoni Northerns’ was crowned league winners after beating Alberton in the final.
Cricket captains of Boksburg’s two top clubs of the Eastern Premier League – CBC Old Boys and CMH Boksburg – have given their respective overviews following the recent culmination of yet another exciting season.
Both teams showed huge improvement compared to last campaign, but it was Old Boys who rather surprised with some big performances which saw them miss the play-off picture by an inferior run rate to perennial champions Kempton Park.
Both Old Boys and Boksburg qualified for the elite group of the top six clubs along with Northerns, Alberton, Kempton and Actonville Spurs after emerging from the initial 12-team league.
Old Boys captain Casey Arnold said: “It was a very good season for the boys, last season we came sixth, this season we came fourth.
“We were really unlucky, we had to beat Kempton in the last game with a bonus point to make the play-offs and unfortunately Kempton got to the bonus point score in the last over with Johan Fourie scoring an amazing 70.
“This meant we still won the game, but didn’t get the bonus point.
“If anything had gone slightly different like the rained-off game we played, we would’ve been in the top three for the first time in years.
“We beat Kempton three times this season, in a row, the first time it’s ever happened for us in years.
“I’m very proud of the boys that they pulled together, the way we played and to almost beat Kempton by a bonus point.
“I think it’s important to make the top three, but our goal was to make top four and to get a Battle of the Roses franchise, and we are the Strikers, the CBC Strikers in the Battle of the Roses. So we’ve managed to achieve two of our goals, which is really good.
“So from my side, it was a successful season; we know we have to keep working and thanks to everyone for their efforts.”
Boksburg skipper Adam Forbes commented: “This season was a bumpy one but all in all, it was Boksburg’s best one yet.
“It started shakily when we lost to teams we shouldn’t have lost to and things didn’t go our way, but we steadied our ship and found our feet and this made us reach our goal of making top six.
“Top six for us was a great achievement considering we’re so young and inexperienced compared to the other five teams. It was an eye-opener for a lot of our youngsters, who I thought stood up and showed some great bravery when thrown in the deep end. At the end of the day, as captain, I’m very happy with this past season and the goals we achieved.
“Already looking forward to September and Boksburg is ready to achieve the next set of goals.”
Champions Northerns topped the top six log, earning them the privilege to automatically qualify for the final. With Alberton and Kempton finishing second and third respectively, they had to battle it out for the right to face Northerns in the final – with Alberton winning that play-off battle.
Follow us:
For more #hyperlocal news at your fingertips, visit Benoni City Times, Springs Advertiser, Brakpan Herald, African Reporter and Kathorus Mail
