Div 2 Wrap: De Klerk, Erlank and Venter star on day two

DE KLERK SHINES WITH THE BALL FOR IINYATHI

Jade de Klerk starred with the ball for Eastern Cape Iinyathi as they restricted Mpumalanga Rhinos to a second-innings score of 180 on day two of their CSA Four-Day Series Division two match at Uplands College, White River, on Friday.

De Klerk bowled circles around the Rhinos' batters as he spun his way to a second first-class four-wicket haul. The 24-year-old left-arm spinner took four wickets for 59 runs in 16 overs.

De Klerk's performance puts the visitors in a relatively strong position. Eastern Cape Iinyathi batted second and put up 321 runs in reply to the Rhinos' first innings total of 256. As things stand, Eastern Cape Iinyathi trail the Rhinos by 115 runs and have 10 wickets in hand.

Mncedisi Malika was unable to pick up from where they left off on day one. The 25-year-old wicketkeeper added 10 runs to his overnight tally before he was dismissed by Alexander Kok. Unlike Malika, Nonelela carried on seamlessly. The 21-year-old worked his way to a fifth first-class half-century that came off 135 deliveries.

Yikha shared a brilliant 94-run partnership with De Klerk that put the visitors’ innings back on course. De Klerk was fluent as he struck eight fours on his way to a fourth first-class half-century.

Following De Klerk's dismissal, Yikha farmed the strike in his 43-run eighth-wicket partnership with Phaphama Fojela.

The 21-year-old scored 33 of the 43 runs. It was during the course of this partnership that Yikha reached his maiden first-class century. Unfortunately for both the team and the player, Yikha was dismissed two balls later.

After Yikha's dismissal, things went downhill for the visitors as Alexander Kok claimed more wickets. The 24-year-old spinner came into the match with two wickets for 115 runs as his career-best bowling figures in an innings.

After he was done with the Eastern Cape Iinyathi batting line-up, Kok had figures that read seven wickets for 81 runs in 35.4 overs.

Unlike the first innings where they had a decent opening partnership, the Rhinos stumbled the moment they came out to bat in their second innings.

After 6.5 overs, their top three batters for 16 runs. Yassar Cook and Jurie Snyman flirted with the idea of building a sturdy fourth-wicket partnership, but their effort did not go beyond 37 runs.

It was during the fifth-wicket partnership between Snyman and Rubin Hermann that the hosts seemed to find firm footing. During the partnership, Snyman reached his ninth first-class half-century. It came off 54 deliveries. Five balls later, Snyman was back in the hutch, dismissed by Thomas Kaber.

Hermann held on for just under five overs following Snyman's dismissal and he too made his way back to the dressing room.

The wheels were coming off. Alexander Kok was dismissed eight balls later. With all recognised batters back in the hutch, things were not looking good for the Rhinos. They had a lead of just over 70 runs over Eastern Cape Iinyathi.

The Rhinos' tail wagged for long enough to add 38 more runs to the total. 27 of those runs were off Luco van der Walt's bat.

ERLANK PUTS TUSKERS IN CONTROL

Michael Erlank was outstanding with both bat and ball as he helped the AET Tuskers gain control of their CSA Four-Day Series Division two contest against Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers at Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn on Friday.

Erlank bagged his fourth four-wicket haul as he helped the Tuskers to restrict the Badgers to a first-innings total of 152. The Badgers were replying to the Tuskers' first innings score of 175.

In their second innings, the Tuskers were on 109 for two at stumps, thanks to an unbeaten 41 from Erlank. He will resume on day three with Tian Koekemoer (6*). Yaseen Valli (39) and Thamsanqa Kumalo (11) were the two wickets to fall.

Tuskers lead the Badgers by 132 runs and have eight wickets remaining.

On the morning of day two, Jean du Plessis was only able to add five runs to his overnight score before he had to make his way back to the dressing room.

His replacement, Tyrese Karelse, scored a laboured nine runs from 55 balls. But, Capell's resolve was not shaken by the clattering wickets. The 25-year-old left-hander worked his way to a seventh first-class half-century as he kept the Badgers' innings together.

After the dismal figures from the rest of the top four, the Badgers would have hoped that Capell would go on to triple figures.

It was not to be. Capell fell after a well-played 63 in the 60th over.

Capell's wicket was one of three wickets that fell in a cluster. He was soon followed back to the dressing room by Onke Nyaku and Andre Malan as the Badgers slid from 105 for four to 113 for six in 4.3 overs.

Basheeru-Deen Walters came out swinging. The number 10 batter was the second Badgers batter to score more than 20 runs after Blayde Capell. The 36-year-old pacer scored a handy 31 runs that were critical to the Badgers reaching a total of 152.

Erlank was outstanding with the ball for the Tuskers. The 32-year-old spinner registered his fourth first-class four-wicket haul with four wickets for 54 runs in 24 overs.

Malcolm Nofal also chipped in with two wickets for 16 runs in 11.3 overs.

VENTER GIVES IMPALAS HOPE

Morne Venter was the mainstay of Limpopo Impalas as they navigated their way to 269 for eight on day two of their CSA Four-Day Series Division two match against Eastern Storm at Polokwane Cricket Club on Friday.

At stumps, Venter was unbeaten on 84. The 25-year-old was particularly circumspect in his innings. He struck nine fours in his 243-ball knock.

Eastern Storm, who won the toss and chose to bat first, put up a first innings score of 330. The Impalas trail Eastern Storm by 61 runs with two wickets remaining.

On Friday morning, Ludwig Kaestner was watchful as he resumed his innings from the previous day. The 22-year-old lost partners in quick succession after Divan Posthumus made early inroads.

The 28-year-old medium pacer struck in the first hour of play, dismissing Liam Peters (14) and Nyiko Shikwambana (0). Following the double strike, Kaestner and Hobson patiently accumulated 32 runs from 18.2 overs. Mykyle Pillay broke that partnership.

Kaestner will consider himself unlucky to have missed out on a maiden first-class half-century. The 22-year-old's highest score coming into this match was 26 and he improved that to 45.

Morne Venter was able to succeed where Kaestner had failed. The 25-year-old marched to his third first-class half-century in 109 balls.

The Impalas continued to stumble forward, buoyed by Venter's presence at the crease. Venter lost the companionship of Louren Steenkamp (26) and Ruan Haasbroek (37) at the crease in a space of 19.2 overs.

In that period, the Impalas added 102 runs. Sizwe Masondo (14) stuck around for 10.4 overs before he too had to leave Venter. Sahil Patel (4) stuck around for an even shorter period.

Divan Posthumus was Eastern Storm's most successful bowler with three wickets for 33 runs in 16 overs. Tumelo Simelane also took three wickets but did so at a slightly higher economy rate of 2.38 runs an over. Posthumus was going at 2.06 runs an over.