RAIN SAVES BADGERS FROM HEAT
Northern Cape Heat had to settle for a draw in their CSA Four-Day Series Division two match against Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers at Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn on Sunday. The team captains shook hands shortly after 4pm after rain prevented play on day four of the contest.
Northern Cape Heat had the upper hand for much of the contest and would feel as if the elements conspired against them.
After choosing to bat first, Northern Cape Heat had to rely on Grant Thomson (51) and Kelly Smuts (78) to dig them out of a deep hole with a 93-run fifth-wicket partnership.
The pair came together with Northern Cape Heat floundering at 74 for four. Their efforts, in addition to Romano Terblanche's unbeaten 47, helped them reach 274.
In their reply, the Badgers were like deer caught in headlights as Benjamin van Rensburg and Ernest decimated their batting line-up.
Matthew Christensen (44) took the part of the lone ranger as wickets around him. Marcello Piedt and Basheeru-Deen Walters did what the Badgers' top-order failed to do by putting together a 45-run 10th-wicket partnership that dragged the hosts to a score of 125.
Victor Mahlangu (69) and Rivaldo Moonsamy (52) scored half-centuries as Northern Cape Heat cruised their way to 256 for five declared to set the Badgers a 406-run target.
With the target in place, Northern Cape Heat had their sights on a comfortable win. Especially after Tshepo Ntuli had the hosts pinned against the ropes.
The 27-year-old claimed a fifth four-wicket haul with four wickets for 64 runs in 24 overs.
Ntuli had his eye on a sixth five-wicket haul but rain prevented play on day four.
Ernest Kemm was the pick of the bowlers in the match with six wickets for 79 runs in 34 overs. Benjamin van Rensburg's figures of four wickets for 22 runs in 13 overs are his career-best bowling figures in an innings.
STORM EDGE RHINOS IN THRILLER
Mark Pearse and Divan Posthumus starred with bat and ball as Eastern Storm sealed a one-wicket win over Mpumalanga Rhinos in their CSA Four-Day Series Division two match at Willowmoore Park, Benoni, on Sunday.
Pearse plundered 113 runs from 94 deliveries on his way to a brilliant second first-class century as he created a platform for a first-innings score of 368.
Pearse's knock featured 16 fours and three sixes. None of the Eastern Storm batters played knocks of meaningful purpose, save for number 11 batter, Nico van Zyl. Van Zyl scored a career-best unbeaten 71 off 88 balls.
Eastern Storm's 368 was in reply to Mpumalanga Rhinos' 304 that came courtesy of an unbeaten 87 off 97 from Alexander Kok.
Kok's innings featured 11 fours and three sixes. Kok's efforts were supported by Rubin Hermann (46) and Jon Hinrichsen (59).
In the Rhinos' second innings, Divan Posthumus took his maiden five-wicket haul as he helped keep Eastern Storm in check and restrict them to a total of 352.
With 352 runs on the board, the Rhinos established a 288-run lead. Yassar Cook (87), Alexander Kok (78) and Benjamin van Niekerk (49) starred with the bat in the innings.
Posthumus was required to perform heroics again in Eastern Storm's second innings as they chased down the required runs.
Kabelo Sekhukhune (77) and Danie Rossouw (55) built the platform from where Posthumus launched after a lower-middle order collapse.
Posthumus steered the home side home by equaling his first-class high score of 55 runs. The 28-year-old's third first-class half-century came off 68 deliveries.
Despite the win, Eastern Storm's morning started badly. They lost Wesley Coulentianos within the first half-hour of play. The 29-year-old left-hander lasted only 32 deliveries and added eight runs.
Kabelo Sekhukhune had a better morning than his erstwhile partner, Coulentianos. The 25-year-old left-hand batter cruised to a 62-ball 50 during the first hour of play.
Sekhukhune struck 10 fours on his way to a ninth first-class half-century.
Sekhukhune gave the home side hope thanks to a sturdy 96-run fourth-wicket partnership he shared with Danie Rossouw.
Sekhukhune and Rossouw's partnership brought Eastern Storm to within 130 runs of victory.
Muhammed Mayet made things even more difficult for the hosts when he dismissed Mykyle Pillay eight deliveries later.
Danie Rossouw only managed to hang on till he reached his third first-class half-century. He was dismissed on the next delivery.
Mangaliso Mosehle (22) drew Eastern Storm closer to victory with a 29-run partnership with Posthumus. The former Lions wicketkeeper was outfoxed by Jon Hinrichsen with Eastern Storm in the hunt for 77 runs to win.
With Mosehle gone, the responsibility to steer Eastern Storm lay squarely on Posthumus's shoulders. The 28-year-old allrounder struck five fours on his way to a 59-ball half-century.
During the course of his innings, he built two crucial partnerships, the first, a 51-run partnership with Amaan Khan and the second, a 23-run ninth-wicket partnership with Neo Felane (14*).
Posthumus was unable to see his team to victory. He was dismissed with Eastern Storm in need of three runs to win. Felane was at hand to score the winning runs.
Muhammed Mayet was Mpumalanga Rhinos' most successful bowler with four wickets for 57 runs in 14 overs.
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