'Reject' Easterns want Gauteng scalp

Even without a number of regulars, Gauteng are a strong one-day team and although he acknowledges this fact, Easterns' coach Ray Jennings has every faith in the ability of his "rejects" to win the top-of-the-table Standard Bank Cup clash at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Wednesday (4pm start).

West Indian fast bowler Kenny Benjamin consulted a specialist on Monday to have a persistent groin strain checked out and he will not play for Gauteng on Wednesday.

Fast bowler David Terbrugge will only be fit again for the semifinals (he has a toe injury) and there are also doubts about the availability of fast bowler Justin Engelke (bruised heel). To add to that, regular captain Clive Eksteen and star batsman Daryll Cullinan are both on national duty in India.

"We are the unfashionable country cousins, but we have acquired the taste for victory at Easterns and have been playing really good cricket of late," said Jennings.

Indeed, Easterns have only been beaten once this season in the limited-overs competition and top the table with five wins and three no results for a haul of 30 points. Gauteng have the same number of points from eight matches, but their net run rate is far inferior to that of Easterns.

On the plus side for Gauteng is the return to the side of veteran Kiwi Ken Rutherford, who was in Ireland on business and missed Sunday's narrow victory over Griquas at the Wanderers.

His experience and proven big match temperament will be key to a Gauteng side in which the replacements have all done their bit, from allrounder Zander de Bruyn through to swing bowler Johnson Mafa and left-arm spinner Neil Fusedale.

Easterns have no big names apart from West Indian Phil Simmons, but they have proved that individual excellence often stems from good team spirit and players like Derek Brand, Mark Conyers, captain Deon Jordaan, Albie Morkel, Andre Nel and Pierre de Bruyn have all turned in match-winning performances this summer.

Squads

Easterns:

Derek Brand, Mark Conyers, Deon Jordaan (capt), Phil Simmons, Anthony Botha, Dennis Smith, Pierre de Bruyn, Gareth Flusk, Albie Morkel, Aldo van der Berg, Andre Nel, Colin Kruger, Anthony Pollock.

Gauteng:

Adam Bacher (capt), Andrew Hall, Ken Rutherford, Derek Crookes, Geoffrey Toyana, Nic Pothas, Zander de Bruyn, Dean Laing, Solly Ndima, Neil Fusedale, Justin Engelke, Johnson Mafa.