Bad light stopped play on day one of the CSA 4-Day clash between the Northen Cape Heat and the eastern Cape Iinyathi in Kimberley. File Picture: Shaun Roy, BackpagePix
THE NORTHERN Cape Heat bowlers made the most of the overcast conditions at the Kimberley Diamond Oval on day one of their CSA 4-Day Series Division 2 encounter against The Eastern Cape Iinyathi, bundling the visitors out for 186 in just 57.4 overs.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat, but could have had second thoughts after Hardus Viljoen (5/40), Basheer Walters (2/27) and Ernest Kemm (2/47) did most of the damage for the hosts, with Zakhele Qwabe also chipping in with a wicket.
Mncedisi Malika (61) was the only Border batsman that managed to kick on, with the other batsmen finding it hard to keep the Heat’s bowling attack at bay.
Three other batsmen scored over 20, Marco Marais (35), Nathan Roux (22) and Chad Classen was unbeaten on 20 when the visitors’ innings came to an end.
The hosts, however, didn’t have the best of starts either, losing Modiri Litheko (7) and Ernest Kemm (1) early on.
When the umpires called the players off the field due to bad light, the Heat were on 8/2 after only 4.2 overs, and will know that they have it all to do on day three to make up the 178 run deficit before they can even think of kicking on to build a first innings lead.
Classen 1/0 and Nico van Zyl 1/8 did the damage for the visitors before play ended.
Friday should see a sunny start to the day, but the clouds could roll in again in the early afternoon. However, the hosts will be hoping that by then the pitch would have flattened out a bit, so that they can take control of the encounter.
The match is being broadcast on the Cricket South Africa YouTube channel, but ask yourself, what could be better than watching live cricket at a world class cricket stadium?