The host of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week, the Free State, is the only unbeaten side at the tournament. It is only their opposition tomorrow, Gauteng, which could bring their unbeaten streak to an end. Free State will play against a very strong Gauteng team in the main game of the week at OUTsurance Oval .
Gauteng recovered from their earlier setback against KwaZulu-Natal Inland on the third day by convincingly beating Boland by 120 runs. Boland shared the honours with Free State as the other unbeaten side at this prestigious event, till today.
Gareth Oliver (67), Robert Farina (61*) and Shaylen Pillay (53) all scored fifities for Gauteng, while Quinton de Kock the week’s prolific run scorer was bowled for a first-ball duck. He was caught by Cobus Langenhoven off the bowling of Lizaad Williams with the very first delivery of the match. The spin bowler of Gauteng, David Magotlane grabbed three wickets for only seven runs.
The Free State defeated Northerns in a tight encounter after restricting them to a mere 93 runs. The hosts won the toss and elected to bowl and left-arm seam bowler Dante Vries (3/25) causing most of the damage with the ball in hand. His captain, Keagan Rafferty also bowled well picking up two wickets conceding mere 17 runs.
The Free State’s batsmen struggled against Northerns’ fast bowler, Duanne Olivier who sent three batsmen packing conceding 20 runs in the process. He could have picked up a five-wicket haul if two catches had not been dropped off his bowling. Simon Khomari (28) was once again the stalwart with the bat for Free State.
Mark Airey helped his team, KwaZulu-Natal to a 20-run victory over neighbours KwaZulu-Natal Inland. He scored 93 runs which included ten fours and grabbed his second five-wicket haul of the tournament. He conceded 48 runs with his leg-spin.
Other players who came to the fore once again were Grant Edmeades (67*, 3/20), Neels Bergh (96), Chad Fortune (3/30) and Xander Pitchers (76).
The fixtures for tomorrow are:
Free State vs. Gauteng (OUTsurance Oval)
Boland vs. Western Province (Johan Volsteedt Oval)
Easterns vs. KwaZulu-Natal (Vossie’s Field)
Eastern Province vs. Northerns (CUT Oval)
Border vs. North West (Windmill Park)
South Western Districts vs. Griqualand West (Grey – Shooting Range)
KwaZulu-Natal Inland vs. Mpumalanga (Grey – GCB)
Limpopo vs. Namibia (Casa Parentum)
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