Rain spoils Cape Derby

World Sports Betting Western Province and Gbets Rocks had to share the spoils at Six Gun Grill Newlands in Cape Town on Sunday as the CSA T20 Challenge encounter was abandoned due to persistent rain.

Kyle Verrynne had won the toss and elected to bat first under cloudy skies in the Mother City. However, with the home side on 86 for one in the tenth over, the umpires pulled the sides from the field before a final decision was made to call the game with both sides taking two log points.

Eddie Moore was the only wicket to fall during the 9.2 overs bowled, having being castled by Imraan Manack (2-0-14-1) for just three after facing nine deliveries. Tony De Zorzi, recalled to the side, looked in good form as the left-hander struck three boundaries and four maximums on his way to an unbeaten 51 from 32 balls.

Province were going along at a good pace with De Zorzi and Verreynne at the crease but the players were forced from the field for the first time at the end of the seventh over with the hosts on 58 for one.

Play had been suspended for around 45 mins before the sides returned to the field of play and the match reduced to 15 over per side. Yet only 2.2 overs could be bowled, with De Zorzi going to his fifty, before rain fell again, forcing the players off the field for the final time.

Verreynne struck three fours himself to end unbeaten on 28 from only 15 deliveries as the pair shared in an unbroken stand of 61 from just 31 balls. Glenton Stuurman managed two overs, conceding 14 runs while Akhona Mnyaka conceded 15 runs in his two overs.

Siyabonga Mahima was taken apart by De Zorzi and Verreynne, conceding 28 runs from his 12 balls with two fours and two sixes coming from his left-arm spin. Shaun von Berg managed just 1.2 overs, conceding 13 runs along the way.

WP remain in third place, moving to 23 points, four points ahead of the Hollywoodbets Dolphins, who are in action against the Auto Investment North West Dragons, but could drop to fourth depending on the result.

The Rocks, who had won two of their previous three encounters, move to 11 points and close the gap on the Dragons to four points, who host Western Province next Friday while the Rocks travel to Centurion to take on the Momentum Multiply Titans.

WORLD SPORTS BETTING WESTERN PROVINCE: Tony de Zorzi, Eddie Moore, Jonathan Bird, Kyle Verreynne (capt, wk), Valentine Kitime, George Linde, Juan James, Kyle Simmonds, Beuran Hendricks, Wesley Bedja, Mthiwekhaya Nabe.

GBETS ROCKS: Keegan Petersen, Adrian Du Toit, Clyde Fortuin (capt, wk), Aviwe Mgijima, Christiaan Jonker, Ferisco Adams, Shaun von Berg, Imraan Manack, Glenton Stuurman, Siyabonga Mahima, Akhona Mnyaka.