Northerns let off hook

The Border semi-professional cricket team will be disappointed with themselves after they let Northerns off the hook on day one of their CSA three-day competition clash at Buffalo Park on Thursday afternoon.

After a good start with the ball and taking regular wickets throughout their innings, the hosts had the visitors in trouble at 175/8 at a stage and looking on course to bundle them out for under 200.

However a brilliant maiden first class century from Northerns number eight Ruan de Swardt coupled with fantastic contributions from the final two batsmen took Northerns reached to 326/9 at stumps.

The day started with Border stalwart Basheer Walters taking two early wickets with Northerns on 21/2.

He had the dangerous Andrea Agathangelou (9) caught behind by keeper Mncidisi Malika, before repeating the trick with former Border captain Gionne Koopman (6) who edged behind for a low score on his first appearance back at Buffalo Park since he left in the off season.

Fellow opening bowler Sithembile Langa and first change Bamanye Xenxe built on Walters good start, as first Neil Brand (1) became Malika's third take behind the stumps, before opening batsman Victor Mahlangu offered a catch to Martin Walters for 20 off Xenxe, as Northerns slipped to 38/4.

Leus du Plooy and Diego Rosier showed Northerns first bit of resistance with a 41-run partnership.

Immediately after a lunch break Langa bowled Rosier for 23.

Du Plooy found another willing partner in Rivaldo Moonsamy and they enjoyed a 63-run stand, but Border kept chipping away as Joshua Dodd removed Moonsamy for 36 and du Plooy for a well played 62. Mkhululi Calana joined the attack and accounted for Eldred Hawken (5) with Northerns at 175/8.

A superb ninth wicket stand between de Swardt and Tshepo Moreki resulted in an 88-run stand, before Moreki was trapped lbw by Calana for 29.

Their last wicket partnership with Alfred Mothoa allowed de Swardt to reach his century. Play was called with de Swardt on 104 and Mothoa on nine.