Iinyathi beats Eastern Storm
This was the Eastern Storm’s third successive loss in the competition.
An unbeaten 80 off 154 from Marco Marais inspired Eastern Cape Iinyathi to a four-wicket victory against the Eastern Storm in their last match of the Cricket South Africa four-day series season at Willowmoore Park.
Iinyathi clinched the victory on the last day, February 18, thanks largely to Marais’ resolve and positive cameos from the lower order.
Marais shared a 122 fifth-wicket partnership with Mncedisi Matika as the pair ensured their team added 125 for the loss of two wickets to their overnight score of 143/4, reaching their target of 268 to win the match.
The right-handed Marais scored nine boundaries in the innings, while Matika registered five fours in his 49 off 152 before being bowled by Kyle Landsberg with the score on 233 in the 87th over.
But the game was already headed to the ending when Jade de Klerk joined Marais in the middle, adding 17 runs before Andrew Rasemene dismissed the former. Joshua Dodd and Marais then combined to score the winning runs, condemning their hosts to their third successive loss in the competition.
Eastern Storm won the toss and chose to bat on day one on February 15 and finished the day positively on 235/8, thanks to a stellar fight back from Danie Russouw, who scored 55 runs after a top-order collapse.
They added 18 to their overnight score when they were dismissed for 252. Seamer Chad Classen and spinner Landsberg then shared three wickets between themselves as they tore the Iinyathi batting line-up to shreds, dismissing them for 126 to establish a healthy 126-run lead for the Storm.
However, the home side’s batsmen failed to capitalise on the momentum built by the bowlers in the second innings when they ended day two on 79/6, with the lead at 205 with four wickets in hand.
Iinyathi bowlers Thabile Hlatuka (5/31) and De Klerk (4/30) began day three with firepower when they combined for nine wickets, ensuring the Storm didn’t add more runs to their score, dismissing them for 141, having added only 62 to the scoreboard.
In response, the visitors scored 143/4 before bad light stopped play at the end of the third day. They added the needed 125 on the last day to win the match by four wickets and end the season positively.
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