The 2013 Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Weeks gets underway at Kearsney College

The Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week, got under way in and around Durban, today, with everyone fairly amazed that play was possible at all after several days of persistent rain, which was still coming down late last night.

The groundsmen and organisers performed their customary miracles, however, and just one change of venue was necessary and one game stated late.

Under the circumstances, it was no surprise that the opening session belonged to the bowlers. There was just one half century scored in the first innings – Northwest’s Michael Eckard got 54 against Free State.

Low totals and good bowling figures were the order of the day, with the pick of the bowlers Border. Easterns’ Lance Humphrey, who took 5/24 in his 10 overs against Limpopo. There was one other five wicket haul – Timothy Niemand took 5/50 against Border.

Western Province’s Dayyaan Galiem took 4/13 against Boland, while two Gauteng bowlers - Kagiso Rabada (3/14) and Nicholas Scholtz (3/7) – were impressive as their side bowled KwaZulu-Natal Inland out for 61.

The first two days of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week features timed cricket matches, so the sides that went out cheaply will have a chance to bat again in the second innings, and the bowlers will have to show that they can produce the goods when the fields start drying out and the wickets begin to ease up.

Weather permitting, there will be four more days of action after this, followed by matches between the SA Schools and SA Colts sides against Dolphins team on Saturday.

Scores:

Boland vs Western Province

Boland 46 all out. (Cilliers 25*, Galiem 4/13, Stevens 3/2, Olivier 2/13)

Northerns vs Border

Northerns 194 all out (Moonsamy 40, du Plooy 43, Niemand 5/50)

Border 10/1

KZN Coastal vs Eastern Province

KZN 133/7 (Oakes 41, Stretton 3/20)

Limpopo vs Easterns

Limpopo 76 all out (Humphrey 5/24)

Easterns 44/1

North West Province vs Free State

NW 138 all out (54* Eckard, van Wyk 3/26, Mokgwera 3/26)

Free State 3/0

KZN Inland vs Gauteng

KZN Inland 61 all out (Rabada 3/14, Scholtz 3/7)

Gauteng 78/5 (Roelofsen 40)

Namibia vs Griquas

Namibia 135/9 (Erasmus 32, Kruger 36, Brooker 4/20)