Easterns will meet KwaZulu-Natal Inland in the final of the CSA Provincial T20 Cup after both comfortably won their semi-final matchups played at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Monday.
The hosts crushed Border by nine wickets thanks to a superb all-round bowling performance and batting display to behold – with Jurie Snyman’s flying unbeaten 58 off 26 balls (2 fours, 7 sixes) leading them to a 132-run target with more than eight overs to spare.
Before that, Nduduzo Mfoza’s brilliant 3-16 in four overs inspired KZNI to a 21-run win over Eastern Province, with half-centuries also coming via the bats of Grant Roelofsen (63 off 51 balls, 7 fours) and Cody Chetty (62 off 43 balls, 10 fours).
It meant both sides progressed to Tuesday’s Heritage Day Final. Semi-finals day, though, was all about the Pietermaritzburg-based Inland and locals Easterns as they produced dominant displays on the East Rand.
Yusuf Abdullah’s side was first up, and they were put in to bat first by their counterparts from Port Elizabeth. That did not prove to be a problem for openers Roelofsen and Chetty, who bashed their way to exactly 100 for the first wicket.
After the dismissal of the latter, the promoted Robbie Frylinck thrashed 28 not out from only 14 balls to help his side amass 172-3. Jade de Klerk was the best of the bowlers with 1-23. Veteran Standard Bank Proteas all-rounder Frylinck (2-28) then landed two early blows with the ball, removing Marco Marais (6) and Matthew Christensen (3) to leave EP in a fix at 15-2 in the fourth over.
And despite 21s by Joshua van Heerden and Kelly Smuts as well as 30s from Thomas Kaber (32) and Tiaan van Vuuren (30 not out), the chasing side was always playing catch up, having slumped to 74-7 at one stage.
Mfoza’s three-for lead the way, while there was also other support from Michael Booth (2-24) and the consistent Kerwin Mungroo (1-29).
The second semi-final was the other way around as Easterns, coached by Richard das Neves, delivered a fine display with the ball after they had to field first. Armand Erasmus and Dyllan Matthews both claimed 2-25 in their four overs, while Imraan Manack bagged 1-24 to restrict Border to a modest 131-9.
The strong bowling by the hosts was in the middle of the innings after the visitors had made a strong start to reach 53-1 in the seventh over thanks to top-scorer Gihahn Cloete (30) and Yaseen Vallie (26).
Rising young South Africa star Sinethemba Qeshile managed 20, along with Ayabulela Gqamane, but Border failed to set a competitive enough total.
It was then one-way traffic as Wesley Marshall (40) and Yaseen Vallie (29 not out) put on 54 in the first five overs before Snyman thrashed them to victory with 51 balls remaining.
Tuesday’s final will be the final chance for Mzansi Super League Wildcard hopefuls to perform. The six teams are set to name their final picks after the conclusion of the action, with the announcement of the lucky six players set for Wednesday.
Photo: Gallo Images
