Border stun EP in Africa Cup T20

Border were the toast of the town on Sunday evening as they qualified for the finals weekend of the 2018 Africa Cup T20 competition with a thrilling three-wicket victory over Eastern Province at Buffalo Park, in East London.

Things were desperately unlucky for EP, who had come into the final day’s play as the only unbeaten side on top of the log, but by the end of the day, Namibia had beaten Kenya and Border won their encounter leaving all three sides locked on 13 points.

It then came down to net run rate and with Border’s being far superior to the other two, they topped the standings ahead of EP in second and Namibia third.

In the Border and EP match, Clayton Bosch (32 not out off 30 balls) and Jason Niemand (28 off 24 balls) were the heroes for the hosts as their superb half-century put them back on the winning track.

Bosch joined Niemand at the crease with Border on 82/5 in the 11th over, chasing 138 to win, and EP in a rampant mood having removed the entire top five.

But the two knuckled down, and took their time, batting out the next few overs before picking up the pace towards the end of the innings.

Their match-winning 55run stand finally came to an end in the 19th over when Glenton Stuurman trapped Niemand lbw and then bowled Bamanye Xenxe off the next ball.

But the scores were already level and his last ball of the over came off Bongolwethu Makeleni’s thigh and ran away to the boundary as Border snuck over the line with six balls remaining.

Thomas Kaber, 3/15, was the pick of the EP bowlers, while Stuurman backed him up well with 3/30.

In the other match on the day, Namibia needed a super over to get past Kenya.

Kenya posted 183/9, which Namibia matched with 183/8, before managing to hit 16 off their super over while Kenya could only respond with six.