Eastern Storm secure draw after Mabanga’s unbeaten 74

Debutant Sabelo Mabanga starred for the World Sports Betting Eastern Storm, striking his maiden first-class half-century to help the hosts secure a draw against Garden Route Badgers in their Cricket South Africa (CSA) Division Two First Class Shield match at WSB Willowmoore Park on September 12.

Mabanga combined with Amaan Khan for a crucial 104-run eighth-wicket partnership to guide Eastern Storm to 316/7 at the close of play after the hosts had suffered a middle-order collapse.

Eastern Storm were in trouble at 170/6 after losing six wickets for just 56 runs, having earlier been placed at 114/0 while chasing Garden Route’s first-innings total of 460.

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Mabanga first steadied the innings with Merrick Brett, with the pair adding 40 runs for the seventh wicket before Brett was dismissed for 16.

Khan then joined Mabanga at the crease, and the pair produced a composed rescue act, rotating the strike effectively and frustrating the Badgers’ attack as they took Eastern Storm past the 300-run mark.

Mabanga finished unbeaten on 74 off 89 balls, while Khan was also not out on 55 off 60 when play was called with Eastern Storm on 316/7.

Earlier, the Eastern Storm innings had begun promisingly, with Jurie Snyman and Aryan Gopalan sharing a 114-run opening partnership.

Gopalan scored 34 before he was trapped in front by Nhlakanipho Mpungose, bringing Captain Chris Britz to the crease.

Britz and Snyman added 20 before Britz, who made 12, was caught at deep square attempting to clear the field.

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That dismissal triggered the Storm’s dramatic collapse.

Snyman top-scored with 86 off 109 before he was bowled by Banele Cele, who also dismissed Kabelo Sekhukhune for four and Ronan Hermann for seven. Dewan Marais, who scored seven, was trapped in front by Liam Alder.

With Eastern Storm reeling at 170/6, Mabanga and Khan’s unbeaten partnership ensured the hosts stayed in the contest, with the three-day encounter already heading towards a draw after the opening day was lost to a wet field.

Earlier, Garden Route resumed their first innings on 367/6 and added 93 runs to reach 460.

Pheko Moletsane continued his impressive innings, adding 30 to his overnight 89 to finish on 119 off 186 balls.

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The tail added a further 59 runs, with Zack Momberg contributing 39 and Cele 17.

Khan was the pick of the Eastern Storm bowlers with four wickets, while Tumelo Simelane claimed two. Snyman, Gopalan and Chad Classeen took one wicket apiece.

Eastern Storm then carried their momentum into the Defabet Pro50 Cup the following day (September 13), with Ronan Hermann smashing 116 off 103 balls to lead the hosts to a successful chase of Garden Route Badgers’ target of 286.