De Bruyn and Nel guide Easterns to victory over North West

Another solid batting performance by Pierre de Bruyn and a five-wicket haul from Andre Nel enabled Easterns to claim a comfortable 59-run victory over North West in their Standard Bank Cup match in Potchefstroom on Friday evening.

Easterns won the toss and elected to bat first, putting on an impressive total of 210 for nine wickets in their 45 overs.

North West were bowled out for 151 in 43.3 overs of yet another rain-delayed match.

Easterns got off to an inauspicious start with the loss of openers Derek Brand and Mike Rindel for no runs.

Rindel was the first wicket to fall with the score on a paltry 1-1 and with his wicket coming off only the fourth ball of the match.

Derek Brand's wicket fell five balls later, and with Easterns' total not much healthier at 2-1.

When Derek Crookes left the crease with the score at 7-3, it seemed as though Potchefstroom's faithful were destined for an early evening.

But Deon Jordaan provided the first bit of stability to the Easterns innings with his 49 runs, lifting the visitors to 103 for four.

However, it was young Pierre de Bruyn who again stood out for his team. Sensing the urgency, De Bruyn fired 68 runs off 92 balls, including six fours and one six, to provide the backbone of Easterns' innings. De Bruyn also weighed in with a useful bowling performance that saw him claim two wickets for 30 runs.

Lower down the Easterns batting order, De Bruyn's teammates seemed to feed of his form.

Kenny Benjamin was looking good on 21 runs off only 23 balls before he was dismissed, and Graeme Pollock also added a quickfire 34 off 28 balls before being sent back to the changeroom.

The start to the North West innings was equally dismal. The home team were reeling at 30 for five as Andre Nel sunk his teeth into some poor batting by the hosts.

The Easterns paceman, who bowled a superb line and length, finished the match with figures of 5-27 in his 8.3 overs.