Boland’s Kieran Dreyden took 3-7 in Boland’s win, while Garnett Tarr scored 58 for Free State as they were crowned Man of the Match for their respective sides.
SACricketmag.com was at St Stithians for the T20 segment of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week.
First up on the main oval was Free State against Northern Cape, while Limpopo battled Boland on the Baytop Oval.
Free State recovered remarkably from 12-1, thanks to a solid second-wicket partnership between Tarr and CP Klijnhans who strung together 88 to take their to the 100-runs.
Tarr was the more aggressive of the two, smashing seven fours and two sixes for his 43-ball 58, while Klijnhans contributed with a crafty 35-ball 47 (seven fours, one six).
Mason Zacharea and Renier Fourie were busy in the field as both players were instrumental in the five wickets that fell.
Zacharea took 2-37 – which included Tarr’s scalp – and a run-out, while Fourie took a wicket and a run-out as Free State managed to set a 160-run target for Northern Cape.
The chase was wobbly from the start, as Free State bowler Brian Kershaw sliced through Relesego Mothibi before running out Petrus Johannes Duvenhage off his own bowling. Northern Cape found themselves three wickets down for 13 runs, as Pheko Moletsane also got a wicket.
A fightback from Andrew Louw took them to 44 (from 13-2), but Thabiso Albert Lekhoana trapped him LBW with a skiddy delivery.
Wickets continued to tumble as Tshediso Kheswa (2-10), Donald Machalotsa (2-4) and Thandekile Hector Plank (2-16) took doubles, and Northern Cape were bundled out for 110, leaving Free State to claim a 54-run victory.
On the Baytop Oval, Limpopo looked dead and buried after Dreyden ripped through their top order, with Limpopo finding themselves on 45-4. They never recovered and were restricted to 98-8 in their 20 overs.
Limpopo fought back showing that the Baytop is a seamer-friendly wicket, but they only managed to take eight wickets despite three quick scalps from Fumani Maluleke. Boland chased down the total with two wickets remaining, to continue their good form in the tournament.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
