Border end day one in firm control
A top all-round performance from Border on Thursday saw them end day one of their CSA three-day competition against South Western Districts in full control at Buffalo Park.
Mncedisi Malika (32no) and Malwande Zamo (15no) were still at the crease having taken Border past SWD's first innings score of 168 with a positive 47-run stand.
The hosts will begin the second day on 169/5, looking to increase their lead.
Earlier in the day the fired-up Border bowling unit were in top form to dismiss SWD for a below par score.
Border won the toss and elected to field and it proved to be the right call as they had the SWD batsman in all sorts of trouble from the start.
Bowler Phaphama Fojela got an early breakthrough, trapping opener Letlotlo Sesele (5) lbw in the fourth over.
Basheer Walters joined the action bowling Marco de Kock (4) in the seventh over and in the next Fojela had the dangerous Obus Pienaar pinned in front for three, leaving SWD on 12/3.
First change Clayton Bosch bowled Brendon Louw for a 19- Border will begin second day on 169/5, looking to increase their lead ball duck in the 14th over, with SWD in deep trouble at 19/4.
Jean du Plessis and Yamkela Oliphant temporarily stopped the fall of wickets, combining for a 32-run partnership, before Sithembile Langa broke the promising stand, having Oliphant caught behind by keeper Mncidisi Malika for 13.
Langa followed that up by having Marcello Piedt (4) out in similar fashion in his next over as SWD slipped to 59/6.
After lunch Niel Hornbuckle played some counter attacking cricket, finding gaps in the Border field but the 44-run stand was broken by Walters who had du Plessis out lbw for 20.
Tsepo Ndwandwa joined Hornbuckle for a 53-run eighth wicket partnership before Bosch removed Ndwandwa for 20 and Langa cleaned up the tail, including bowling Hornbuckle for a 72-ball 76, as SWD were all out for 168.
The Border chase got to bad wobbly start with early wickets of Sihle Magongoma (4) and Martin Walters (6) saw them reach tea at 29/2.
Opener Bradley Williams (36), Mkhululi Calana (34); captain Jason Niemand (37); took Border 122/5.
It was left to Malika and Zamo to take the hosts safely to the close at 169/5.