Eastern Storm looking for redemption
They are fourth on the log on 69.02 points with two wins, two losses and one draw.
The Eastern Storm will look to bounce back from their disappointing loss away to Mpumalanga Rhinos this past weekend when they take on Border in their final CSA 4-day series division two match, at Willowmoore Park from February 15 to 18.
The Rhinos claimed a 293-run win thanks to their skipper Jurie Snyman’s second-innings double century and well-crafted knocks from Hermann Rolfes (99) and Benjamin van Niekerk (68) in the first innings, condemning their visitors to their second successive loss in the series.
The Storm just couldn’t get their innings going, posting 193 in response to their hosts’ first innings score of 273. Things got even harder when they required 401 to win after the Rhinos added 321/5 declared in the second innings. They were dismissed for 108 to lose the match by over 200 runs.
But on home turf, Geoffrey Toyana’s charges will have a home ground advantage. Perhaps that will serve as motivation for captain Shane Dadswell and co to end the season positively and get one over fifth-placed Border.
Toyana’s team has had a decent season two wins two losses and a draw. They began their campaign with a draw away to Northern Cape Heat in October. They claimed their first win in November when they beat South West Districts (SWD) by 104 runs and ended the year with a nine-wicket victory over the table-topping Knights.
The Storm suffered their first loss of the season to Limpopo Impalas at Willowmoore Park last month, losing by 63 runs and lie fourth on the log on 69.02 points.
Top-order batsman Shaylin Pillay is the top-scorer having posted 359 runs in 10 innings, including 229 against SWD, while Kabelo Sekhukhune holds the second-best batting record with 314 runs, including a single century and one half-century.
Seamer Chad Classen leads the bowling stats with 23 wickets at an incredible average of 21.04 in 10 innings. But all-rounder Divan Posthumus is having an incredible run with both bat and ball. He has scored 246 runs and taken 23 wickets so far.
First ball on all four days is at 10:00.
Upcoming fixtures at Willowmoore Park
CSA Colts provincial
• February 29 to March 3 – Eastern Colts vs Mpumalanga Colts from 10:00
CSA division two T20 knockout
• March 9 – Storm vs Eastern Cape Linyathi
• March 15 – Storm vs Northern Cape Heat
• March 24 – Eastern Storm vs Limpopo Impalas
All matches at 13:30
T20 International
• March 27 – South Africa Women vs Sri Lanka Women at 10:00.
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