Peters shines as Northerns claim only outright win on Day One of Coke Week

A second-innings burst by Gideon Peters of Northerns saw him take four wickets for just seven runs to help secure the only outright victory, by an innings and 24 runs, against Border on the opening day of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week in Johannesburg on Sunday.

The youngster from Hoërskool Waterkloof in Pretoria, took a total of six wickets for 38 in 12 overs, including three maidens. He (Peters 2/31), along with a phenomenal Christopher Britz (1.2-0-2-2) helped restrict the Eastern Cape side to 111 in their first innings after they won the toss and elected to bat first in the timed format.

Border slipped to 52/8, but were rescued by South Africa under-19s, ICC U19 World Cup selection Akhona Mnyaka. The fast bowler and number nine batsman returned an unbeaten 42 from 70 balls and shared a 55-run partnership with number 10 batsman, Sebastian Denison-Brown (11 off 64).

The pair returned to strike with the ball. Denison-Brown, the pick of the bowlers with his 3/48 and Mnyaka backing up the attack with 1/17. His SA U19s teammate, Jason Niemand made up for his disappointment with the bat, taking 2/12 in five overs, along with Siphamandla Krweqe (2/18) who also picked up a pair. Their efforts, while brave were not enough for the Northerns side, who were led to 143 thanks to a half-century by Britz (51 off 105), 26 by Thabo Motaung and 20 from another SA U19 World Cup selection, Hermann Rolfes.

Peters was nothing short of sensational in his attack of Border in their second innings. He took his four wickets in four overs and orchestrated the run out of Josneil Long (2 off 13). The batting side lost all five of those wickets for just eight runs, awarding the Pretoria team a most satisfying victory in the end.

Two centuries were also scored today, by Eastern Province’s David Rushmere (119 off 161) against Gauteng and Louis van Schalkwyk for North West when they took on Namibia.

In the EP/Gauteng game at University of Johannesburg’s Soweto campus, an impressive six-wicket haul by the home side’s Ntokozo Mahlaba (6/59) saw them secure victory on first innings scores in spite of Rushmere’s ton. He hit 13 fours and a six getting his side to a respectable 181 after the rest of the line-up fell victim to Mahlaba, with good support from Curtis Campher (2/36) and yet another SA U19 World Cup selection, Kgaudise Molefe (2/48).

Gauteng amassed 194/6 thanks to Jacob Miltz (53 off 96), Matthew Erasmus (45 off 86) and Campher (26 off 56). EP’s Jade de Klerk and Kenan Smith showed why they were also picked for the U19 World Cup taking place in New Zealand next year. They were the only bowlers who managed to strike for their team, taking a respective 3/40 in 19 overs, including four maidens and 2/74 in 18 with one maiden, but it was not enough to secure a win.

At Braamfischerville Cricket Oval, North West were helped to a first-innings conquest of Namibia thanks to Van Schalkwyk and Odirile Modimokoane. The latter took 4/33 in 14 overs including three maidens, confining the neighbours to 210 after winning the toss and electing to bat first. Gerhard Lottering top-scored for them with 58 off 112 deliveries, assistance coming from Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (37 off 78), Ramon Wilmot (35 off 65) and Lohandre Louwrens (34 off 42).

Van Schalkwyk’s ton included nine boundaries as he and Muhammad Suliman (38 off 124) batted their side to 231.

In other first-innings victories; KwaZulu-Natal Inland secured triumph over Western Province when the sides met at Soweto Oval, Limpopo beat Northern Cape at Walter Milton A, South Western Districts held down a win over Easterns at Lenasia Stadium, while KwaZulu-Natal were victorious against Mpumalanga at KES John Hurry Main Oval.

Finally, at St David’s Main Oval, Boland and Free State’s clash ended in a draw.