Border to resist Cape of storm
A HECTIC week-and-a-half of cricketing action kicks off today as the Border semi-professional team takes on Northern Cape in their Sunfoil three-day cup match at Buffalo Park.
Following the match, Border will entertain Northern Cape again in a one-day match on Sunday, and then next week Wednesday and Sunday will see the Warriors in CSA T20 Challenge action against the Dolphins and Titans respectively.
“If we can set an example this weekend and get some positive results I think it will build excitement up for when the Warriors play next week,” admitted Border coach Frank Plaatjes.
“We have two big games against Northern Cape and are ready to get down to business.”
Border will thus want to get the ball rolling with a couple of good results against a strong Northern Cape team.
Border are still unbeaten in threeday action this season after three draws, with their last match against Northerns being washed out after only half a day’s play.
On the one-day side, they have battled a bit however, after picking up a win in their first match and then losing their next two.
Northern Cape come into the match in good form, having won one threeday match and drawing their other two, and having won two one-day games and the other a no result – meaning they are yet to be beaten this season across both forms of the game.
Border will need to get off to a good start today and try and force a result, before taking that momentum into Sunday’s one-day match.
“I think the guys are up for the challenge, we had a bit of introspection after our last performance and we have worked very hard to get ready for this match,” said Plaatjes.
“I am quietly confident we can come out with two good results.”
The Border squad selected for the two matches is the same as their last game against Northerns, with one addition in Warriors regular Yaseen Vallie, who is not needed for their T20 campaign, so is available for Border.
Vallie will go a way to filling the void of the in-form Christiaan Jonker, who enjoyed some top performances for Border earlier in the season before joining up with the Warriors for the T20s.
“It is great to have Vallie available for us as he brings a lot of experience in and although our batsmen have been very good so far this season, Vallie will add another dimension,” claimed Plaatjes.
Other Border players Gionne Koopman, Martin Walters, Darryl Brown and Phaphama Fojela will want to continue their good form so far this season and help lead Border to victory. Today’s match gets under way at 10am and Sunday’s one-day will start at 9.30am.
The Border squad for the three-day cup and one-day competition matches: Mkhululi Calana, Gionne Koopman, Martin Walters, Darryl Brown, Jerry Nqolo, Marco Marais, Sinovuyo Ntuntwana, Mncedisi Malika, Phaphama Fojela, Thandolwethu Mnyaka, Sesona Ndwandwa, Avumile Mnci, Clayton Bosch, Phumzile Majaja, Yaseen Vallie.