Eastern Cape Iinyathi v Eastern Storm ruined by rain

The third day of the CSA 4-Day Challenge contest between Eastern Cape Iinyathi and Eastern Storm at Buffalo Park was interrupted by rain.

The two teams did not take to the field because of a persistent downpour.

When play resumes on day four, opener Jason Niemand and No 3 batter Joshua van Heerden will take to the crease.

This is because the hosts lost their opener Jerome Bossr late on day two. Bossr fell in the second over for a four-ball duck. Niemand and Van Heerden are still yet to score in Eastern Cape Iinyathi's second innings.

In their first innings, Eastern Cape Iinyathi put up 336 runs, and Eastern Storm managed 231 runs in reply. Eastern Cape Iinyathi leads Eastern Storm by 105 runs with nine wickets in hand.

SIX GUN GRILL GARDEN ROUTE BADGERS V LIMPOPO IMPALAS

Onke Nyaku's double hundred and Sean Whitehead's century, both career-best scores, propelled Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers to an imposing 611 for five wickets on day three of their CSA 4-Day Challenge match against Limpopo Impalas at Pietermaritzburg Oval on Saturday.

Nyaku carved 14 fours and six sixes on his way to a career-best unbeaten 201 runs that came off 352 deliveries. Coming into this match, Nyaku had played 45 first-class matches and batted in 69 innings, and he had only a single century next to his name. Nyaku was admirably supported by Sean Whitehead.

The 25-year-old Whitehead came into this innings with one century from 17 matches in which he batted in 23 innings. Whitehead's career-best was an unbeaten 103. During his 336-run partnership with Nyaku, Whitehead stroked 10 fours and three sixes on his way to an unbeaten 155 off 271.

In their second innings, the Impalas reached stumps with 108 runs on the board for the loss of two wickets. They trail the Garden Route Badgers by 229 runs with eight wickets in hand.

On the morning of day three, Onke Nyaku and Sean Whitehead picked up from where they left off on the previous day. Nyaku, who was on 65 at stumps, maintained his composure and marched on to record his second first-class century. Whitehead, for his part, was looking fluent and comfortable as he brought up his fifth first-class half-century. The duo saw the Badgers through to lunch without losing a wicket.

Post-lunch, Nyaku and Whitehead continued with their impressive partnership. The pair saw the Badgers past the 500-run mark with relative ease. The 500 runs came up almost at the same time as Whitehead's second first-class century. Soon after toting up his ton, Whitehead breezed past his previous first-class high score, an unbeaten 103. Nyaku, whose previous first-class high score was an unbeaten 101, brought up his 150 shortly afterward.

84.1 overs after they had come together to form a partnership, Nyaku and Whitehead had added 299 runs to the total and had given the Badgers a 300-run lead over the Impalas. Nyaku's strike rate had hardly changed, however, Whitehead, who had been scoring at a strike rate of around 50, was now scoring at a higher rate that was closer to 60.

Only 3.4 overs later, Whitehead brought up his 150. Whitehead and Nyaku took 4.3 overs to drive the Badgers from 574 to 600 runs. The pair's running between the wickets seemed to improve as the match wore on. However, for his big moment, Nyaku chose not to run. After 178.1 overs, the 28-year-old, who was on 197, brought up his maiden double century in style with a four.

The Badgers declared almost immediately after Nyaku's double hundred. When the Badgers declared, they had a 337-run lead over the Impalas.

Sithembile Langa was Limpopo Impalas' most successful bowler with two wickets from 27 overs. Despite the impressive batting by Blayde Capell, Onke Nyaku and Sean Whitehead, Langa managed to bowl eight maiden overs. Ntoko Mahlaba also bagged two wickets from his 44 overs, but he did so at a higher economy rate of 3.81 runs an over.

The Impalas knew that they needed a strong showing from their top order if they were going to not only surpass the Badgers' total but also put up a competitive score. One of their batters retiring hurt was not on their plans. Unfortunately for the visitors, Ruan Haasbroek was forced to retire from the match. When Haasbroek retired he had scored 18 from 36.

The Impalas' problems increased when they lost their first wicket. Their 22-year-old opener Ludwig Kaestner got a start but failed to kick on and was dismissed in the 19th over, bowled by Sean Whitehead, for a patient 21 that came off 60 deliveries.

Ruan Haasbroek made his way back to the crease to resume his innings after Kaestner's dismissal. 10.4 overs after Kaestner's dismissal, the promising partnership between Haasbroek and Hobson was broken by Keenan Vieira when the 25-year-old claimed Hobson's wicket. Hobson had scored 29 runs from 52 balls.

Ruan Haasbroek and Louren Steenkamp saw the Impalas to the close of play without further loss of wickets. At stumps, their partnership had added 25 runs to the total. Haasbroek was unbeaten on 43 from 79, while Steenkamp was on 13 from 19.

Sean Whitehead was Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers' best bowler with one wicket from 15 overs. Whitehead bowled seven maiden overs and conceded 30 runs. Keenan Vieira also took a single wicket in his two overs. Vieira conceded 20 runs.

NORTHERN CAPE HEAT STILL ALIVE AGAINST TUSKERS

Ernest Kemm and Grant Thomson survived for long enough to keep Northern Cape Heat in the game in their CSA 4-Day Challenge encounter against the AET Tuskers at Pietermaritzburg Oval.

At stumps on day three, Northern Cape Heat was on 99 for three wickets, rebuilding after losing early wickets.

Northern Cape Heat trail the Tuskers by 129 runs with seven wickets in hand. The Tuskers were bowled out for 228 runs in their first innings.

Northern Cape Heat would have hoped for their openers, Victor Mahlangu and Ernest Kemm, to see them through the first hour of day three without incident. That was not to be. Mahlangu, who was unbeaten on five at stumps, survived only for long enough to face five deliveries and score five runs before he was dismissed by Stefan Tait.

Kemm was joined by Jason Oakes in the middle and the pair saw Northern Cape Heat past the first hour and the 50-run mark. However, their promising partnership was broken by Tait. The 25-year-old former Warriors pacer claimed his second wicket of the day when he dismissed Oakes in the 16th over. One wicket turned into two when Keith Dudgeon trapped Rivaldo Moonsamy in the next over. Northern Cape Heat's hero in the previous two four-day contests fell after scoring only a single run.

The contest was brought to a halt by rain after 28.4 overs. By then, Ernest Kemm and Grant Thomson were rebuilding the visitors' innings. The pair had scored 42 runs in 11.5 overs.

At stumps, Ernest Kemm was on an unbeaten 36 from 69 balls while Grant Thomson was on 17 runs off 44 deliveries.

Stefan Tait was the Tuskers' most successful bowler of the day with two wickets from nine overs. Tait bowled three maiden overs and conceded 21 runs. Keith Dudgeon was the only other wicket-taker in the Tuskers' bowling attack. Dudgeon took one wicket in 10 overs.