Border blow that cloud of gloom away with Challenge victory
THE Border semi-professional cricket team broke a six-game win-less run on Sunday when they claimed a superb four-wicket win in their Provincial One-Day Challenge match over the high-flying North West team in Potchefstroom.
It was a good follow-up after they struggled to draw the Sunfoil 3-Day Cup match that ended on Saturday afternoon, before they then confidently put away the pool A log leaders in the one-day game.
“I was happy with the one-day win but the three-day was always going to be a gamble because the team who won the toss were going to be in the driver’s seat and so it proved in the end,” said Border coach Frank Plaatjes.
“It is something to build on, to come away from Potch with a win over the one-day log leaders is a big achievement and I am proud of the guys effort.”
In the one-day game the hosts batted first and powered their way to a solid 320/6 in their 50 overs.
Sithembele Langa (4/69), was the most threatening Border bowler, while Phaphama Fojela (1/66) and Jerry Nqolo (1/53) were the only other bowlers to pick up a wicket.
With a daunting target then on the cards, Border captain Gionne Koopman superbly led from the front, carrying his bat through the innings to end on 126 off 119 balls (17x4), while he received brilliant support from young Jason Niemand who scored 79.
Cameos from Nqolo (36), Sinethemba Qeshile (24) and Fojela, 20 not out off nine balls (2x4; 1x6) helped them reach the target with four balls to spare.
“It was an awesome chase, the way Koopy played, batting through the innings was key,” said Plaatjes.
“He (Niemand) is playing great cricket, he is a mature cricketer even though he is a young player and it is awesome to watch his progression.
“In Potch I thought with batters we had we would have a good chance of chasing down the score and we did.”
In the three-day match a disastrous first innings batting performance gave North West hope of claiming a win over two days after the entire first day’s play was washed out.
Batting first Border were 106 all out as middle-order batsman Niemand top-scored with 31, while number 10 Langa (16no) and number 11 Sinovuyo Ntuntwana (16) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures.
North West then cruised to 276/3 declared as only Fojela (2/43) and Nqolo (1/25) picked up wickets, with Border then having to try and bat out the final day.
A much better batting effort then followed led by Koopman who hit 73, while Mkhululi Calana (59) and Mncedisi Malika (43) also contributed with Border 284 all out.
This left North West needing 114 to win with little time left and they reached 36/3 in five overs with Fojela taking 2/16 and Langa 1/15 when the match was called.
“There was dampness in the wicket and water seeped under the covers, and that made it really difficult for the team batting first,” explained Plaatjes.
“Once the wicket became dryer it was easier to bat on and it showed in the North West innings and our second innings. We fought well to save the game and I was really impressed with that.”
Border’s final two games of the season will be against KwaZulu-Natal at Buffalo Park next week where they will play a three-day match from Thursday and the one-day on Sunday.