Easterns fight back as Border lose their grip

WICKETS continued to fall on day two of the Sunfoil Three-Day clash between Border and Easterns with 16 wickets tumbling at Buffalo Park.

The visitors however find themselves slightly ahead after a superb counter-attacking 93-run partnership from Sizwe Masondo and Matthew Arnold rescued them from a perilous 63/5 to be on 178/8 at the close of play, a lead of 213 going into the final day.

Easterns bowled Border out for 141 shortly after lunch, and took a 35-run lead into the second innings, however the hosts stormed back removing the first three Easterns wickets for just one run.

In the first over Phaphama Fojela trapped Wesley Marshall lbw and had Kyle Degambur caught by Gionne Koopman, both for first-ball ducks.

In the next over Thandolwethu Mnyaka pinned Ernest Kemm (one) dead in front and Easterns were in all sorts of trouble. But Daniel Sincuba and Wesley Coulentianos then steadied the ship with a 62-run partnership, but then on the stroke of tea, Sincuba was run out for 26.

Eight balls after tea Sinovuyo Ntuntwana had Coulentianos caught behind for 33 as Easterns stumbled to 63/5.

However, Arnold came in to join Masondo and the two enjoyed a superb partnership, with Masondo the aggressor, however neither batsman was able to make it to the close as Arnold was trapped by Somila Seyibokwe for 29 and Masondo bowled by Ntuntwana for a very good 70.

Lance Humphrey (one) then fell just before the close, leaving Clayton August (6no) and Kofi ApeaAdu yet to score, unbeaten at the crease.

In the morning Border resumed their first innings on 32/2 with Martin Walters and Seyibokwe at the crease. They took Border past the 50 and increased their partnership to 61 runs, only for Walters to become the day’s first victim, caught for 26 off the bowling of Arnold.

In the next over Seyibokwe (36) offered a catch to Coulentianos which he gleefully accepted, off the bowling of Apea-Adu, as Border slipped to 68/4.

A 40-run stand between Darryl Brown (12) and Marco Marais followed to get Border past the hundred, but just as they were looking to kick on Brown was trapped in front by August.

Avumile Mnci (three) didn’t stick around long, and Fojela (12) struck two fours but was then caught off the bowling of Tumelo Simelane, with Border falling to 136/7 and lunch taken soon after.

After lunch only three more runs were added to the score before the last three wickets fell within five balls, including Marais went for 40. Arnold was pick of the bowlers having picked up an impressive 5/41, while Simelane did the lower order damage with a superb spell of four overs in which he claimed three wickets and conceded just two runs.

Today’s play gets under way at 10am.