A mixed bag from the Border semi-professional cricket team saw them comprehensively beaten by Northern Cape in their Sunfoil 3-Day Cup match last week, before bouncing back with a good win in the CSA Provincial one-day challenge game on Sunday.
Border were hammered by an innings and 34 runs in the Sunfoil Cup game, but recovered well to claim a close three-wicket win with seven balls to spare in the 50-over clash.
“I was very disappointed with the three-day performance, we struggled with the bat on that wicket and our performance in the first innings defined the game,” said Border coach Frank Plaatjes.
“But I was happy with the way we bounced back in the one-day, we showed terrific resilience to stick in there when we were in trouble early in the chase and get the win in the end.”
In the three-day match a disastrous first innings from Border that saw them skittled for just 115 and that put them on the backfoot for the entire match, eventually succumbing to a heavy defeat on the final day.
Bradley Williams top-scored in the first innings with 29, while only Clayton Bosch (24), Somila Seyibokwe (20) and Phaphama Fojela (17) managed to reach double figures.
Northern Cape were then led by a superb captains knock from Werner Coetzee who struck an unbeaten 170 as they declared on 434/8, while Sithembele Langa with 5/105 was the only standout bowler for Border.
Border’s second innings 285 all out was relatively better than the first but not enough to force the hosts to bat again with Clayton Bosch (71) and Avumile Mnci (55) hitting career-best first-class scores.
Former Border bowler Thandolwethu Mnyaka also shone in the match as he came back to haunt his former team, picking up 3/18 in the first innings and scoring a career high 80 with the bat.
“I think the difference between the teams was Coetzee’s knock, it was a very impressive effort and we just couldn’t get him out,” admitted Plaatjes.
“Mnyaka was also very good in the match, we knew what he could bring to the game having played for us for many years and he showed that with a good allround performance.”
Going into the one-day encounter Northern Cape would have been riding high, but were undone by another Marco Marais masterclass with the bat.
A good allround bowling effort saw Border restrict Northern Cape to 243 all out.
The Border chase then got off to a calamitous start as they were reduced to 31/4, with Gionne Koopman also retired hurt with a suspected hamstring injury.
This however brought Mnci and Marais together and the two embarked on a match defining 187-run partnership that took Border to within sight of victory.
A late stumble saw Marais (122), Mnci (65) and Phaphama Fojela (1) fall in quick succession, but captain Koopman bravely returned to the crease and with Bosch took Border home.
“After our three-day loss we really wanted a win, so for us to pull it off after where we were it was a really special effort from Marco and Mnci,” said Border coach.
Border next take on Boland in East London this week.
Border awake from their slumber to snatch ODI win
Border were hammered by an innings and 34 runs in the Sunfoil Cup game, but recovered well to claim a close three-wicket win with seven balls to spare in the 50-over clash.
“I was very disappointed with the three-day performance, we struggled with the bat on that wicket and our performance in the first innings defined the game,” said Border coach Frank Plaatjes.
“But I was happy with the way we bounced back in the one-day, we showed terrific resilience to stick in there when we were in trouble early in the chase and get the win in the end.”
In the three-day match a disastrous first innings from Border that saw them skittled for just 115 and that put them on the backfoot for the entire match, eventually succumbing to a heavy defeat on the final day.
Bradley Williams top-scored in the first innings with 29, while only Clayton Bosch (24), Somila Seyibokwe (20) and Phaphama Fojela (17) managed to reach double figures.
Northern Cape were then led by a superb captains knock from Werner Coetzee who struck an unbeaten 170 as they declared on 434/8, while Sithembele Langa with 5/105 was the only standout bowler for Border.
Border’s second innings 285 all out was relatively better than the first but not enough to force the hosts to bat again with Clayton Bosch (71) and Avumile Mnci (55) hitting career-best first-class scores.
Former Border bowler Thandolwethu Mnyaka also shone in the match as he came back to haunt his former team, picking up 3/18 in the first innings and scoring a career high 80 with the bat.
“I think the difference between the teams was Coetzee’s knock, it was a very impressive effort and we just couldn’t get him out,” admitted Plaatjes.
“Mnyaka was also very good in the match, we knew what he could bring to the game having played for us for many years and he showed that with a good allround performance.”
Going into the one-day encounter Northern Cape would have been riding high, but were undone by another Marco Marais masterclass with the bat.
A good allround bowling effort saw Border restrict Northern Cape to 243 all out.
The Border chase then got off to a calamitous start as they were reduced to 31/4, with Gionne Koopman also retired hurt with a suspected hamstring injury.
This however brought Mnci and Marais together and the two embarked on a match defining 187-run partnership that took Border to within sight of victory.
A late stumble saw Marais (122), Mnci (65) and Phaphama Fojela (1) fall in quick succession, but captain Koopman bravely returned to the crease and with Bosch took Border home.
“After our three-day loss we really wanted a win, so for us to pull it off after where we were it was a really special effort from Marco and Mnci,” said Border coach.
Border next take on Boland in East London this week.
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