Iinyathi captain Marais hopes for play this weekend

Decision to go ahead hangs on Saturday’s pitch inspection of rain-sodden outfield

Eastern Cape Iinyathi will have to be patient before their remaining CSA Division 2 T20 Cup Pool B matches at Buffalo Park Cricket Stadium this weekend, captain Marco Marais says.

This is after Iinyathi’s opening CSA Division 2 T20 Cup game against Northern Cape Heat was called off on Friday because of a wet outfield, caused by heavy rains during the week.

After an inspection by umpires Bongani Ntshebe and Roderick Ellis with match referee Barry Lambson on Friday morning, the outfield was deemed unfit for play.

The four teams each got a point due to play being called off.

“We will have to be patient and assess conditions on Saturday, that is if there is any play happening this weekend.

“We will have to look at the game which will be played by the teams before us, then we will make a decision regarding our game plan for our match,” Marais said.

With two games remaining in their pool, Marais said: “I would like the guys to be mentally switched on and go out there to do the job regardless of who we play,” he said.

“The teams in our pool are evenly matched this season; they are different from last season because they have signed in new players to add to their strength.

“However, we got basically the same team from last season, which will be an advantage because every player understands the roles in the team, and we will have home-ground advantage.

“The batters will have an idea of the dimensions of the ground and our bowling attack will know which areas to bowl,” he said.

Iinyathi’s next fixture is against Limpopo Impalas on Saturday, and on Sunday they face Garden Route Badgers (both matches expected to start 2pm).

Buffalo Park head of groundsmen Ashley Nel said they were working on getting the ground safe for Saturday’s and Sunday’s matches.

“We are working on getting the ground ready for tomorrow’s matches; the outfield was heavily affected by the heavy rains that happened through the week. “We will have another pitch inspection tomorrow morning at about 8am with the umpires Ntshebe and Ellis together with match referee Barry, and that is when we will know if play will be played for the remaining games at the ground.

“We are hoping the sunny weather forecast predicted for tomorrow will help with drying out the dampness of the outfield,” Nel said.

Remaining matches at Buffalo Park: Saturday — Northern Cape

Heat v Garden Route Badgers (10am) and Eastern Cape Iinyathi v

Limpopo Impalas (2pm); Sunday — Limpopo Impalas v Northern

Cape Heat (10am) and Eastern Cape Iinyathi v Garden Route

Badgers (2pm).