The action continues on day two of the Africa T20 Cup. We take a look at the results from the morning fixtures below.
POOL A
Easterns vs KwaZulu-Natal Inland – Easterns won by 58 runs
Easterns continue their dominance over Pool A with another emphatic 58-run victory over KZN Inland. After being inserted to bat first, Easterns posted a mammoth 195-5 in their 20 overs thanks to half-centuries from opener Wesley Marshall (54 off 33 balls, 10 fours) and wicketkeeper-batsman Sizwe Masondo (51 not out off 36 balls, one four, three sixes). The Easterns bowlers turned on the style once again to restrict KZN Inland to just 137-9 in their 20 overs, securing top spot for Easterns in Pool A.
Western Province vs KwaZulu-Natal Coastal – KwaZulu-Natal Coastal won by four wickets
KZN Coastal recorded a four-wicket victory, with eight balls to spare, over Western Province to propel them to second spot in Pool A. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Western Province managed 152-7 in their allocated overs. Qaasim Adams (60 off 48 balls, two fours, two sixes) and captain Andre Malan (52 off 35 balls, six fours) put together a valiant 78-run partnership to help their team to a decent first innings total. KZN Coastal were unperturbed as Michael Erlank’s 60 off 35 balls (nine fours, one six) laid enough of a platform at the top of the innings for the team to chase down the target in the 19th over.
POOL B
Northerns vs Zimbabwe Select XI – Zimbabwe Select XI won by six wickets
Zimbabwe Select XI recorded their second win in the tournament to propel them to second in the Pool B standings. After winning the toss and electing to field first, Zimbabwe restricted Northerns to 137-6 through tight and economical bowling from Rugare Magarira (2-19 in four overs) and the rest of the bowling attack. They then chased down the target in the final over as captain Tarisai Musakanda (67 not out off 54 balls) scored the winning runs with four balls remaining.
Free State vs South Western Districts – Free State won by 24 runs
Free State were able to get the better of SWD with a comfortable 24-run victory. Free State posted 174-8 in the first innings after being inserted to bat first. The in-form Free State opener Andries Gous top-scored with 65 off 41 balls – including six fours and two sixes – to help his team to the imposing figure. SWD’s batsmen all made decent starts but were unable to post any big scores in their effort to chase the target down, eventually succumbing for 150 in the penultimate over.
POOL C
Eastern Province vs Kenya – Eastern province won by 78 runs
Eastern Province stamped their authority at the top of Pool C with a thumping 78-run victory over Kenya. After being inserted to bat first, EP’s sensational opening duo of wicketkeeper Matthew Breetzke (69 off 49 balls, six fours, three sixes) and captain Edward Moore (54 off 31, six fours, three sixes) were at it again with another massive opening partnership. Their 109-run opening stand helped EP post an imposing 188-7 in the first innings. Kenya came back strong in the latter parts of the first innings with Nehemiah Odhiambo picking up 3-27 to restrict EP to below 200. The men from the Eastern Cape then duly bowled Kenya out for just 109 runs in the 16th over with an inspired bowling spell from Thomas Kaber, finishing with 3-11 in 3.3 overs.
Mpumalanga vs Border – Border won by nine wickets
Border put their first win on the board with a convincing nine-wicket win over Mpumalanga (with 15 balls remaining). Mpumalanga were inserted to bat first and posted an imposing 175-5 in their 20 overs. Batting at No 5, wicketkeeper Jared Fuchs was the pick of the Mpumalanga batsman with his unbeaten 78 off 46 balls – including seven fours and four sixes. Marco Marais was on hand once again for Border in the second innings as he scored his second century of the tournament, finishing with 106 not out off just 55 balls (S/R 192.72, seven fours, eight sixes). This time Marais’ efforts helped his team over the line as Border secured victory in the 18th over.
POOL D
Nigeria vs Northern Cape – Northern Cape won by eight wickets
Northern Cape cemented their dominance of Pool D with a commanding eight-wicket victory over Nigeria. After winning the toss and electing to field, Northern Cape’s bowling attack was on song as they restricted Nigeria to 136-6 in their 20 overs. They then easily chased the target down within 15 overs as Patrick Kruger starred with the bat once again, scoring an unbeaten 86 off 49 balls – including five fours and seven sixes.
North West vs Boland – North West won by 11 runs
North West were able to secure an 11-run victory over Boland in a low-scoring encounter. North West batted first and managed to post 130-6 in their allocated overs thanks to wicketkeeper-batsman Nicky van der Bergh’s 68 not out off 45 balls (five fours, two sixes). Migael Pretorius (2-23 in four overs) and Jovuan van Wyngaardt (4-0-14-2) spearheaded the North West bowling attack in the second innings and managed to restrict Boland to 119-7 in their 20 overs.
Photo: Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images
