Rain and bad light came to the Eastern Storm’s rescue, cutting short what was shaping up to be a disappointing outing in their CSA Division Two T20 Knockout encounter against Northern Cape Heat at Willowmoore Park on October 29.

Easterns, last season’s runners-up, managed just 103 in a lacklustre batting display in a match reduced to 16 overs after rain interrupted play at the end of the fifth over, before bad light brought proceedings to a premature end as the Kimberly side began their reply.

Put in to bat, the hosts had no answer to the searing pace of Benjamin van Rensburg, as the left-arm quick ripped through the top order, removing Kabelo Sekhukhune and Ernest Kemm in the second over.

Van Rensburg began the rout with Sekhukhune, dismissing the left-hand opener with a ball that shaped away from outside off and edged onto his stumps.

He then had Kemm caught behind after enticing the number three to drive at a length ball, which brushed the outside edge before falling comfortably in the hands of Garnett Tarr behind the stumps.

Opener Chris Britz and Brayden Hicks steadied the innings with 39 for the third wicket, thanks to the free-scoring Hicks, whose innings included an elegant six that landed on the roof of the hut off Ethan Frosler, before rain halted proceedings.

Easterns fell from 47/2 as Ruan van Rooyen and Tshepo Ntuli took a sledgehammer to the excellent structure laid out by Britz and Hicks, with three wickets after the restart.

Van Rooyen had Britz caught behind with the first ball after the resumption of play, and Ntuli had Jurie Snyman caught by Liam Doherty, who ran from long on before cupping the ball to reduce the homeside to 54/4.

Also Read: Britz named division two T20 MVP

Hicks’ 46 off 24, studded with four boundaries and two maximums, ended when he attempted to clear the in-field, only for Orapeleng Motlhoaring to dive full length to his left at short third man and take a stunning catch off the bowling of Van Rooyen.

That was the end of any meaningful partnership for the hosts as the wickets fell like dominoes afterwards.

After Juan Lubbe sent Odirile Modimokoane to the roof, the spinner enticed the batsman with a similar delivery, but this time Lubbe holed out to third man.

Shaveer Khan followed off a Van Rooyen delivery that clipped the top of off stump before Amaan Khan attempted to clear the field, but instead holed Van Rensburg out to Motlhoaring at fine leg.

Motlhoaring and Frosler took the remaining wickets of Captain Grant Thompson, caught inside the ring, and Tumelo Simelane, caught at long off, as Easterns were dismissed for 103.

The players were called off the field due to bad light as Northern Cape began their chase. The match was eventually called off as the situation failed to improve.

Upcoming Easterns home fixtures:

• November 5 vs Border at 13:00
• November 15 vs Limpopo at 13:00

Also Read: #CSAT20Knockout: ‘Britz brilliance’ leads Eastern Storm to final