Aubrey Swanepoel's brilliant century powered Northern Cape Heat to a 21-run win over Limpopo Impalas in their Momentum One-Day Cup match at The Oval, Kimberley, on Sunday. Heat scored 198 for six in a rain-affected match that was reduced to 23 overs per innings. In their chase, Impalas managed 177 for eight.
Impalas won the toss and chose to bowl.
Heat would have hoped for a better start to their innings, but instead found themselves a wicket down in the second over. Jonathan Vandiar (2), the Northern Cape side's opener, made his way back to the dressing-room after facing only three balls.
Things got worse shortly afterward when they lost three wickets in four overs. Ernest Kemm, Victor Mahlangu and Evan Jones were all dismissed in the space of 19 deliveries. Of the three, only Kemm reached double figures with his quickfire 18 from 16 balls.
Rivaldo Moosamy arrested the procession of wickets with a 34-run fifth-wicket partnership with allrounder Aubrey Swanepoel. But, Moonsamy's stay at the crease was short-lived as he was dismissed after a brisk 31 scored from 19 balls.
Swanepoel was the mainstay of Northern Cape Heat's batting effort. The allrounder formed two partnerships with Hanu Viljoen and Beyers Swanepoel worth 123 runs. Viljoen and Beyers Swanepoel contributed a combined 22 runs to both partnerships.
The 32-year-old hit 11 fours and six sixes on his way to an unbeaten 102 runs from 47 balls.
Juandre Scheepers was Impalas' most successful bowler with two wickets from five overs, at an economy of 7.8 runs an over. Impalas captain Malcolm Nofal also took two wickets, but he was slightly more expensive with an economy of 9.25 runs an over in his four overs.
Ludwig Kaestner and Thomas Hobson provided Impalas with the perfect start to their innings. The pair put together a fabulous 70-run opening partnership in 7.5 overs. Hobson was dismissed for a brilliant 40 off 29 balls.
Just over two overs later, Kaestner followed his partner back to the dressing-room. Impalas' innings fell apart. First, the Limpopo side lost captain Malcolm Nofal and Ntambazuko Nqam four balls apart. Then they lost middle-order batter Amir Bux two overs later.
The next man in, Juandre Scheepers, was dismissed two overs after Bux's dismissal.
Only Morne Venter contributed a substantial score with his 31 runs that came off 24 balls. Shelton Ngobeni was the last man out after he scored a gutsy 24 from 12 runs.
Evan Jones recorded his career-best bowling figures with four wickets from five overs, conceding only 26 runs.
NORTHERN CAPE HEAT - Jonathan Vandiar, Ernest Kemm, Victor Mahlangu, Evan Jones, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Aubrey Swanepoel, Hanu Viljoen, Beyers Swanepoel, Johan van Dyk, Andrew Rasemene, Jerome Xaba.
LIMPOPO IMPALAS - Ludwig Kaestner, Thomas Hobson, Malcolm Nofal, Ntambozuko Nqam, Morne Venter, Amir Bux, Juandre Scheepers, Shelton Ngobeni, Sahil Patel, Sithembile Langa, Patoona Maphekgola.
EASTERN CAPE IINYATHI V SIX GUN GRILL SOUTH WESTERN DISTRICTS
Match abandoned at Buffalo Park
The Momentum One-Day Cup match between fifth-placed Eastern Cape Iinyathi and second-placed Six Gun Grill South Western Districts that was due to be played at Buffalo Park, East London, was called off due to a wet outfield on Sunday.
The match was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
EASTERN STORM V TUSKERS
No Result at Willowmoore Park
Rain prevented play at Willowmoore Park, Benoni, where Eastern Storm was taking on Hollywoodbets Tuskers in a Momentum One-Day Cup encounter on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, Tuskers had won the toss and had chosen to bowl. The teams only played 2.3 overs, and Eastern Storm was on nine without loss when rain stopped play.
Log leaders, Tuskers, remain unbeaten in the competition.