Border boys hammer South Western Districts

Border continued with their good run at the Momentum Under-17 boys tournament in Port Elizabeth when they beat South Western Districts by five wickets at the weekend.

Adam Richards (64 off 85 balls, 7 fours) and Jason Bader (54 off 83 balls, 4 fours) both struck halfcenturies to steer Border to the emphatic victory.

However, it was the 25-run partnership between Valentine Kitime and Tim Ferguson that helped Northerns win the big match of the day when they beat Western Province.

Fifty-over cricket was the focus on the penultimate day of action, where there was an upset win for Eastern Province over Gauteng, with victories also for KwaZuluNatal Inland, Easterns, Northern Cape, Border, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape Invitational team.

But it was Northerns who claimed the bragging rights from their north-south derby, thanks to Kitime and Ferguson.

Both hit unbeaten half-centuries in a well-managed 145-run chase, which helped their team to a nine-wicket win.

Kitime hit 55 (110 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) and Ferguson a more freeflowing 69 off 69 balls (9 fours), helping Northerns to chase down their target in 33 overs.

This after Conrad Mouton earlier claimed an outstanding four for 13 in eight overs, with Surprise Metiso nabbing three for 31.

Elsewhere, Nicholas Barlow (55 off 95 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) hit a halfcentury and Joshua Stephenson claimed three for 48 as EP edged Gauteng by 10 runs — the match scores 197 for seven and 187 all out for the away side.

Garwin Dampies (2/33) also chipped in with two key wickets.

Meanwhile, Slade van Staden recorded one of two centuries of the day when he posted exactly 100 (121 balls, 12 fours) to help KZN comfortably overcome Boland by 59 runs, the coastal side setting 269 for nine before having the Cape side all out for 210.

In other action, Juandre Johnson top-scored on day four with an impressive 127 off 143 balls, which included nine sixes and six fours, as Easterns beat KwaZuluNatal by 41 runs.

Batting first, Easterns amassed 262 for four, with Frederick Christoffel Kotze (5/38) then claiming five wickets as KZN were all out for 221.

The clash between Northern Cape and Mpumalanga saw 146 play 87 as the Kimberley-based team ran out 59-run winners.

Lethlogonolo Setlaba was their star with four for 22, while Theron van der Merwe supported him well with three for 11.

Adam Richards (64 off 85 balls, 7 fours) and Jason Bader (54 off 83 balls, 4 fours) both struck halfcenturies as Border beat South Western Districts by five wickets.

Finally, Ruan Paulse’s 48 proved pivotal for Limpopo as they edged out North West by two wickets and Cameron Williams’ three for 20 gave ECI a 25-run triumph over Free State.