Joshua van Heerden scored a career-best unbeaten 147 as he led Eastern Cape Iinyathi to an emphatic 58-run victory over Limpopo Impalas in their CSA One-Day Cup match at Polokwane Cricket Club on Friday.
Van Heerden, who was in imperious form, stroked 10 fours and five sixes on his way to 147 runs that came off 137 deliveries as he helped Eastern Cape Iinyathi put up a total of 307 for three in 50 overs.
Van Heerden arrived at the crease after the dismissal of Jason Niemand in the sixth over and batted through the innings. He was also a part of two incredible partnerships worth over 110 runs each.
Van Heerden was awarded the player of the match award for his heroics.
In their chase, Limpopo Impalas were provided with a solid foundation by their top-order batters. Openers Thomas Hobson and Ludwig Kaestner put together a 92-run partnership, and Kaestner and Ruan Haasbroek followed up with a 71-run second-wicket partnership.
However, the hosts were unable to capitalise on the platform and were bowled out for 248 in 48.1 overs.
Limpopo Impalas Impalas won the toss and elected to field first.
Openers Jason Niemand and Mncedisi Malika were watchful in the first few overs of the day. And just when they were gathering momentum, Ruan Haasbroek struck with his offspin to give the hosts an early breakthrough.
The 25-year-old spinner dismissed Niemand for 12 runs off 19 deliveries in the sixth over.
Niemand's former partner, Mncedisi Malika combined with Joshua van Heerden for a 51-run second-wicket partnership that helped Eastern Cape Iinyathi get back on their feet.
The partnership's march was halted by Thomas Hobson when he claimed Malika's wicket. Malika fell for 37 off 47.
Van Heerden's scoring tempo remained unaffected after the dismissal of his settled partner. The 24-year-old marched on to a seventh List A half-century that came off 61 deliveries.
Van Heerden's partner was Marco Marais, who came into this tie on the back of scoring a half-century in his last innings. Marais and van Heerden shared a brilliant 114-run partnership.
Compared to his last knock, Marais was more measured in his approach and was unlucky to fall three runs short of a second consecutive half-century. Marais was dismissed by Hobson for 47 off 74.
Two overs after Marais's dismissal, Van Heerden celebrated his second List A century. Following his century, van Heerden stepped his foot on the gas and raced past his previous List A high score of 126.
At this point, van Heerden was now scoring at over a run-a-ball. He had a willing partner in Nonelela Yikha, who was doing the same at the other end.
Yikha smashed five fours on his way to an unbeaten 45 off 30. Van Heerden, who cleared the boundary five times in his innings, hit three of those sixes towards the end of the innings. After 50 overs, van Heerden was unbeaten on 147 from 137 balls.
Van Heerden and Yikha faced 11 overs as they strung together a 119-run partnership.
Thomas Hobson was Limpopo Impalas' most successful bowler with two wickets from eight overs at an economy of six runs an over. Ruan Haasbroek, the only other wicket-taker, took one wicket for 25 runs in six overs.
KAESTNER STARS FOR IMPALAS
Limpopo Impalas started strong with a 92-run opening partnership between Thomas Hobson and Ludwig Kaestner. The pair navigated the Impalas through the PowerPlay unscathed.
The duo batted through 18 overs before Thomas Kaber broke through Hobson's defences to dismiss him for 39 runs from 58 balls.
Shortly after Hobson's dismissal, Kaestner brought up his second List A half-century. In the 28th over, Kaestner passed his previous List A high score of 75. After 30 overs, Kaestner was in the 80s and the Impalas were on 160 for one, needing 148 runs to win.
Twenty-nine-year-old pacer Sinovuyo Ntuntwana finally provided Eastern Cape Iinyathi with a breakthrough in the 31st over.
Ntuntwana broke Kaestner and Ruan Haasbroek's 71-run partnership with the dismissal of Haasbroek for a well-played 30 from 36.
One wicket turned into two five balls later when Kaber announced his return into the attack by claiming the wicket of Ludwig Kaestner. Kaestner's impressive innings that featured nine fours came to an end with him on 87 from 93.
It seemed difficult to keep Thomas Kaber out of the action. In the 35th over, the 30-year-old was responsible for another wicket when he run out a dangerous-looking Liam Peters.
Peters had raced to 16 runs from 13 deliveries. Kaber provided Eastern Cape Iinyathi with another breakthrough in the 40th over when he dismissed Sizwe Masondo for 10 runs off 13.
A collapse was in effect when Sahil Patel vacated the crease 10 balls later. The 25-year-old was dismissed by Jade de Klerk after scoring only two runs. 2.2 overs later, Jason Niemand began the job of cleaning up the tail.
The 24-year-old spinner's first wicket was Morne Venter, whom he dismissed caught and bowled for 20 off 34.
Niemand was on fire and made it two wickets in one over with the dismissal of Michael McNicol for one run. Niemand continued his impressive run by dismissing Shelton Ngobeni in the 46th over. Ngobeni had scored eight runs from 10 balls.
Jason Niemand was the pick of the Eastern Cape Iinyathi bowlers with three wickets for 12 runs in three overs.
Thomas Kaber also took three wickets in 10 overs but had a slightly higher economy rate of 4.8 runs an over. Jade de Klerk, Sinovuyo Ntuntwana and Phaphama Fojela took a wicket each.