Quick out starting blocks is crucial
CRICKET action kicks up a notch today as Border head into battle against Northerns in their Sunfoil 3-day Cup match at Buffalo Park.
Border face a tough obstacle in an in-form Northerns team and will need a really good start if they are to topple the unbeaten team.
A late change to the Border squad was made yesterday afternoon with all-rounder Jerry Nqolo released from the Warriors set-up, meaning he will be in line to make his 50th first-class appearance on his homeground.
Nqolo made his Border debut in a one-day match in 2009 before playing his debut first-class game in 2010.
He is a popular figure at Border and was elected captain of the team last year following the retirement of previous long-serving captain Abongile Sodumo.
Soon after that, however, he was brought into the Warriors set-up and has since played most of his cricket for the franchise, but will be hoping to celebrate the milestone in style, alongside Darryl Brown who is making his 100th first-class appearance.
“I am very excited to be playing my 50th match. Not everyone who plays gets to reach these types of milestones, so I am glad I was able to,” said Nqolo.
“I feel privileged to be playing the match at home and I will be aiming to put in a really good performance for the team and just to add as much energy as I can.”
Heading into today’s match Border having shown very encouraging signs, especially on the batting front in their two draws against North West and Free State.
Northerns, however, enjoyed two big wins in their opening matches, against Eastern Province and then against KwaZulu-Natal, both by 10 wickets, and they will head into the match with a lot of confidence.
Both results, however, came at home, with this being their first match away, and it remains to be seen how they fare on the road.
Border will be banking on another good batting performance, especially with Nqolo coming in to bolster the order.
Opening batsman Gionne Koopman is in top form so far this season, having scored two half centuries and a century in three innings in the three-day format, and this saw him elevated to the Warriors team for last weekend’s win over the Knights, where he contributed with two solid contributions at the top of the order of 41 and 27.
Martin Walters is also in really good form, with one half century and one century, while Brown has contributed three unbeaten half centuries in his three innings.
“Koopy (Koopman) has been in really good form, but the other guys have backed him up superbly as well,” said Border coach Frank Plaatjes.
“But we need a complete team performance from the guys if we want to get a win over Northerns.”
The Border bowling department has had a slow start to the season, and they will need to up their game to back up the good work of the batting department.
Following the three-day match Border will take on Northerns in a one-day game on Sunday. Northerns have also won both their two onedays this season, making it the perfect start, while Border have won one and lost their last match against Free State.
The action starts at 10am today, while Sund one-day gets under way at 9.30am.