JJ Smuts made history by hitting the first century in the Africa T20 Cup to help Eastern Province beat Gauteng.
Smuts led from the front scoring an unbeaten 102 off 63 balls as EP posted 199-5 in their 20 overs. But it was a close-run thing as Gauteng fought back, to fall four runs short in a thriller.
Smut’s score surpassed Vaughn van Jaarsveld’s 96 for KwaZulu-Natal Inland last year.
Gauteng came close to a win, stringing together good partnerships but losing wickets at vital times. Delano Potgieter and Mangaliso Mosehle put on a 48-run partnership followed by a 75-run stand between Mosehle and Devon Conway to give Gauteng a fighting chance.
A 60-run charge between Conway and Brian Barnard got their side close to victory before Conway (65) lost his wicket on the last ball of the 18th over needing just 16 runs to win.
A 13-run surge by Brian Barnard and Farhaan Sayanvala was not enough to take Gauteng over the line as they found themselves four runs shy of victory, ending their innings on 196-3 in their 20 overs.
