Provincial rivals vie for supremacy

A MASSIVE match is in the offing as provincial rivals Border and Eastern Province clash in the Sunfoil three-day Cup competition at Buffalo Park from tomorrow.

It is all set to be a fiercely fought clash with neither team yet having won a match in their first two games of the season and they will both be looking for a win over their neighbours.

Two of Border’s most exciting young exports will be lining up for the EP team.

Last year’s South African U19 World Cup winner Ngazibini Sigwili and Onke Nyaku both featured in EP’s draw with South Western Districts three weeks ago and have again been included in the EP squad to face Border.

“It is going to be exciting being back home and playing at Buffalo Park and I am expecting some great banter with the players,” Sigwili said.

Both players represented various Border teams during their school careers and turned out for the Border U19 team at one stage.

Ex-Selbornian Nyaku said: “It is always a pleasure coming back home and playing here. I obviously have mixed emotions about playing against Border but I am excited for the match.”

Nyaku and ex-Hudsonian Sigwili will now be looking to impress for EP as they attempt to make themselves a regular feature of the team this season.

Nyaku has played more senior games out of the two with 16 appearances so far, four first class, four List A and eight T20 games, while Sigwili has played 15 matches, with eight first class, three List A and four T20 games.

Arguably Nyaku’s best moment for EP came in the match against SWD where he struck an unbeaten 93 in EP’s first innings, coming in to bat at No 7 and just running out of partners in the end.

“It is one of my best performances so far, but now I need to build on that,” Nyaku said.

“It is a stepping stone and hopefully a sign of things to come.

“Being an all-rounder I would also like to weigh in with a few wickets too.”

Sigwili’s best performance arguably came in the Africa Cup T20 competition where, in EP’s opening game against KwaZulu-Natal, he dismantled their top order in a fiery spell of bowling that finished with him picking up 5/18 in four overs.

“It was a great experience playing against the guys and getting out some very good players, and that has given me a lot of confidence,” Sigwili said.

The pair will keen to impress in the match against Border on their former home ground.

“My biggest asset will be knowing how the guys play . . . so I have an idea of what to expect,” Sigwili said.