The Eastern Storm U13 side wrapped up a superb Cricket South Africa (CSA) U13 Regional Week campaign with a nail-biting five-wicket triumph over KZN-Inland at Willowmoore Park on December 2.

With three runs needed off the final three balls, tension gripped the sidelines, but the talented Aaryan Doorsamy held his nerve. He drove one through extra cover, sparking wild celebrations as the Easterns youngsters erupted in delight.

Easterns closed out the week with an impressive return of three wins and one loss, while Monday afternoon’s fixture was washed out. It was a performance that underlined the team’s composure, fight and growing confidence on the national stage.

Thapelo Ditle’s charges began their campaign with a comfortable victory in the 50-over format over Boland at Benoni Northerns on November 29.

After the Cape side dominated the first session, posting 65/0 before the drinks break, the Easterns spinners spun a web around the Boland batting order and bundled them out for 196, thanks to Nathan Kotze’s five-wicket haul.

They continued the momentum with another victory against Free State on November 29, with the Bloemfontein side managing 167 in its innings. Easterns chased the target with ease, with Doorsamy leading the way with 82 runs.

On Monday, fatigue set in as they suffered their first loss to Northern Cape, before the later game was rained out.

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But they got back to winning ways yesterday, although they had to dig deep to get over the line. Bowling first, the Storm had the KZN side in all sorts of trouble with four early wickets.

Fast-bowling sensation Rhulani Hlengani began the rout when Zack Greaves edged him behind to keeper Junior Dube, before Kotze trapped Roy Woodroffe in front in the third over.

Hlengani grabbed his second and third when he had Sahil Naidoo and Ntando Mzila caught behind. The youngster then combined with Dube to run out Khwezi Madlala, but Vihaan Kassen and Geoffrey Pedley steadied the ship with 46 runs for the sixth wicket, with both batters contributing 23 each in the partnership.

But Kyle Burger broke the stand when Kassen holed out to long-on. Burger grabbed his second with the dismissal of Harrison Young, before left-arm seamer Kayven Hills had Jack Rayston caught at backward point and Reece Steegan caught behind by Dube as KZN-Inland finished with 110/9.

In response, Dube and Caleb Janse van Vuuren started brilliantly with 34 for the first wicket before Greaves dismissed Janse van Vuuren in the seventh over.

The Easterns batters found it tough going as they lost the wickets of Tiago Jonker, Dube (24), captain Christian Troksie (21) and Hills, before Doorsamy’s 13 off 7 – with two boundaries – sealed the win for his team.

Reflecting on the tournament, skipper Troksie, from Springs, said it was a privilege to lead the team.

“I want to thank the coaches for giving me the privilege. I hope I did my job well. It’s a privilege going out there. We are all one. We are the Eastern Storm. We played as a team. That was the goal from day one,” he said.

The tournament featured 16 regions, with matches at Willowmoore Park, Benoni Northerns and Lords Cricket Ground in Actonville.

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