Turnaround as Border clinch spot

They will now be looking to finish their Coke Week on the best possible note with a big win over the powerhouse Gauteng team.

In yesterday’s match against KZN Qeshile scored a wonderful unbeaten century, sharing in a superb 150-run fourth wicket stand with Matt Dewar (89) as Border posted a formidable 287/4 at the end of their 50 overs, before he then took five catches behind the stumps to help dismiss KZN for 153.

“I think that we set a very good score on a batting pitch,” said Qeshile.

“As I went in I said Matt, let’s take it through for the team and take it as far as possible and it came off for us.

“I was very happy with my hundred. I have been batting well over the last few games and getting some nice scores, so I just wanted to continue that.

“As each day has gone on we have picked up our intensity and the guys have wanted to do better and we just want to finish off in style now.”

In the match Border batted and got off to a slow start.

Openers Siyamthanda Zini and Loyiso Mzamo faced a fiery opening barrage, but managed to soften up the ball over a 41-run partnership before both fell to Daelen Flynn within a run of each other.

This brought Dewar and Jason Niemand to the crease and they stabilised first the innings with a positive 62run partnership to get Border over the 100-run mark.

Niemand was just starting to get going when he was trapped lbw for 34 to bring Qeshile in, and along with Dewar they then powered Border over 250 runs.

Dewar was then bowled just 11 runs short of what would have been a well deserved century, while Qeshile continued on to finish unbeaten on 103 off 91 balls (11x4; 1x6), along with Jason Raubenhemier (13no).

“Our openers gave us a good start, but when we lost those quick wickets we had to rebuild a bit and take it as deep as we could, which we managed in the end,” said Dewar.

“I was a little disappointed not to get the hundred, but I was happy with my effort.”

The KZN chase then never got off the ground as they lost wickets steadily throughout their innings, eventually crashing to 153 all out, with only Abdullar Mahomed (31) and Luke de Vlieg (29) really defying the bowlers.

Qeshile was brilliant behind the stumps as he snagged his five catches, with Akhona Mnyaka the pick of the bowlers with 3/19, while Zini (2/13) and Siphamandla Krweqe(2/16) backed him well.

A massive game now awaits Border at the bullring today and they could end off an amazing week with a famous win.