Eastern Storm take on the Northern Cape Heat in an important fixture of the CSA 4-Day Domestic Series – Division 2 at Willowmoore Park, Benoni on 15th January. The match is scheduled to begin at 08:00 UK time, which converts to 13:30 IST. With both sides eager to gain ground in the promotion race, this four-day contest is set to test patience, depth, and bowling discipline on a traditionally fair Highveld surface.
Form Guide
Eastern Storm
Eastern Storm have shown encouraging signs of structure and resilience this season, particularly with the ball. Their seam attack has worked well in tandem, while the batting unit has focused on occupying the crease and building totals methodically. At Benoni, Storm will be confident of making early inroads with the new ball.
- Seam bowlers effective in early sessions.
- Batting unit prioritising time at the crease.
- Improving consistency across four days.
Northern Cape Heat
The Heat arrive with a reputation for grit and competitiveness, often staying in games through disciplined bowling spells. Their batting lineup has produced solid individual performances, though converting starts into big first-innings totals remains a challenge. Away from home, adapting quickly to Benoni conditions will be crucial.
- Bowlers focusing on accuracy and work rate.
- Batting capable of resistance under pressure.
- Need greater first-innings productivity.
Key Players
Eastern Storm
- Janneman Malan – Experienced top-order batter whose patience suits red-ball cricket.
- Eathan Bosch – All-rounder offering seam movement and valuable lower-order runs.
- Tshepo Ndwandwa – Seamer expected to exploit early movement.
Northern Cape Heat
- Raynard van Tonder – Technically sound batter capable of anchoring long innings.
- Eddie Leie – Senior seamer relied upon for control and breakthroughs.
- Patrick Kruger – All-round option adding balance with bat and ball.
Pitch and Weather Conditions
Willowmoore Park traditionally offers good bounce and carry, particularly in the opening days, making it a venue that rewards disciplined seam bowling. As the match progresses, the surface tends to flatten, allowing batters who show patience to build substantial scores. Spinners may come into play later in the contest. Warm and mostly clear conditions are forecast, ideal for uninterrupted four-day cricket.
Eastern Storm vs Northern Cape Heat – Prediction
This fixture is likely to be shaped by first-innings discipline. If Eathan Bosch and the Eastern Storm seamers capitalise on early conditions and the batting unit posts a competitive total, the hosts can dictate the tempo. Northern Cape Heat will look to resistance from Raynard van Tonder and sustained accuracy with the ball to stay in contention. With home advantage and slightly greater bowling depth, Eastern Storm hold a narrow edge.
Dream 11 Fantasy Picks
- Eathan Bosch – Valuable all-round fantasy option over four days.
- Raynard van Tonder – Reliable long-format batting pick.
- Janneman Malan – High-value top-order option for consistency.
