SWD batting hero, Andrea Agathanelou, scored his third consecutive century in first-class cricket – the first batsman to ever achieve this unique achievement – as the Sunfoil Cup Three-day match between SWD and KwaZulu Natal Inland ended in a draw.
In a match where more than sixty overs were lost due to bad light and rain SWD, however, managed to gain an advantage as they surpassed the home team’s first innings score.
In his three innings’ for SWD Agathagelou posted scores of 109, 199 not out and 115 not out for an aggregate of 423 – also his batting average – since he was only dismissed once.
KZN Inland, who were put in to bat, posted 317 (all out) after they were in big trouble at 105/7 but SWD, unfortunately, failed to plant the knock-out blow. Former SWD all-rounder, Gareth Dukes (102; 151 balls, 1×6, 13×4) – who scored his maiden first-class hundred – and Attie Maphosa (64) were involved in a 128 runs partnership for the eight wickets which proved to be significant in the context of the match. For SWD Otneill Baartman (2/65), Glenton Stuurman (3/69) and Mafinke Serami (2/72) were the most successful bowlers.
In their first innings, SWD were dismissed for 209 of which Agathangelou (109; 128 balls, 17×4) made the only significant contribution. With his century, he became only the second player to score a century on SWD debut – the previous achievement came from Jonathan Beukes (SWD vs Border in East London; 2007/08). With a deficit of 169 runs, SWD was requested to follow-on.
SWD opening pair, Neil Hornbuckle (63) and Hanno Kotze (53) both recorded half-centuries in an opening stand of 123 to laid the foundation for a first innings score of 350 (all out). The 26-year-old Agathagelou scored his 7th first-class hundred (115; 176 balls, 13×4) to ensure SWD a first innings lead of 33 runs in the first innings.
With their second innings score at 67/3 on the final day, the umpires abandoned play at 2.30pm.
