Eastern Province Rural (Grahamstown) qualified for the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Rural Week in Limpopo that started yesterday, after finishing fourth in the Coastal league section.
Eastern Province Rural (Grahamstown) qualified for the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Rural Week in Limpopo that started yesterday, after finishing fourth in the Coastal league section.
EP Rural scored 21 points from their seven matches, winning three, losing one and tying one. Two matches were rained out. Boland West finished in first place with 30 points from their seven matches.
Ten teams qualified for the National Week. Playing in the Coastal section will be Boland West, Boland East, Border Country, EP Rural and Border Aloes.
The Inland section includes Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal Coastal, Free State, Limpopo and North West.
A national team will be selected at the end of the National Week. EP opener Brandon Handley stands a good chance of making the SA Team if he continues his sublime form with the bat.
He finished in second spot with a batting average of 73.25.
He scored 293 runs from five matches, including a century and two 50s, with a highest score of 127 not out. His strike rate was 73.43.
Also standing a good chance is captain Kevin Bennet who finished in sixth position with an average of 52.40 from 262 runs, including a century and two 50s, a best of 110 and the second highest strike rate in the competition with 112.44 per hundred balls.
Veteran spinner and all-rounder, Chesley Daniels, will be the most experienced member of the team.
He made his debut in 1997 against North Gauteng and this will be his 10th National Week, alongside fellow veteran Melville Daniels.
The team is as follows:
- Kevin Bennet (Southwell – captain)
- Brandon Handley (Cuylerville)
- Melville Daniels (Willows – vice-captain)
- Carl van Niekerk (Sidbury)
- Jono Davy (Manleys)
- Steven Gornal (Cuylerville)
- Greg Evans (Sidbury)
- Warren Bowdler (Port Alfred)
- Chesley Daniels (Willows)
- Lunga Stamper (Makana Sona)
- Mtunzi Antoni (Makana Sona)
- Siyabulela Nxuzulu (Makana
- Andrew Marshall (Manager) and Gareth von Hoeslin (Coach)
The Rural Week started yesterday and the last matches will be played on Wednesday.
