A top middle and lower order fight back from North West allowed them to earn a draw against Border in their Sunfoil 3-day Cup match at Buffalo Park on Saturday afternoon.
Border had dominated the opening two days and had North West struggling at 13/1 in their second innings, still 153 runs from making Border bat again before the start of play on day three, but after a couple of early wickets North West dug in and frustrated the Border bowling attack and ended on 383/9, a lead of 207 runs when the captains agreed a draw after tea.
Border will be a bit disappointed with the draw after getting into a real good position to win, but will be happy with some impressive performances from a number of their players in their first match of the season.
Of the 19 North West wickets to fall in the match opening bowlers Phaphama Fojela and Thandolwethu Mnyaka claimed 15 of them in a solid showing, Fojela picking up 5/32 in the first innings and 4/98 in the second, while Mnyaka got 3/42 and 3/75.
Border had a number of batsmen getting some good scores, opener Gionne Koopman scored 90, captain Martin Walters managed 73, big hitting Christiaan Jonker scored 75 and the ever dependable Darryl Brown hit an unbeaten 57 in Border's only innings.
But in the end the team had to settle from a draw and now will need to build on this as they travel to Bloemfontein where they play Free State next week.
The third day began with Fojela and Mnyaka reducing North West to 42/3 and in massive trouble.
But a 73 run partnership between Wihan Lubbe (44) and marques Ackerman (69) settled the ship.
However three more wickets went down, including Lubbe and Ackerman with North West slipping to 152/6, leaving Border still on course to gett the win.
A fantastic 147 run seventh wicket partnership between Brady Barends and Armandt Erasmus however then pretty much made the game safe for North West.
Erasmus fell for 72, but Barend stuck around and an unbeaten 50 run last wicket partnership between him and Julian Soutter (25) allowed Barend to score his first ever first class century and end on 105 not out when the game was called.
Border now take on North West in a one day match at Buffalo Park starting at 9:30am on Sunday morning.
North West fight to draw against Border
Border had dominated the opening two days and had North West struggling at 13/1 in their second innings, still 153 runs from making Border bat again before the start of play on day three, but after a couple of early wickets North West dug in and frustrated the Border bowling attack and ended on 383/9, a lead of 207 runs when the captains agreed a draw after tea.
Border will be a bit disappointed with the draw after getting into a real good position to win, but will be happy with some impressive performances from a number of their players in their first match of the season.
Of the 19 North West wickets to fall in the match opening bowlers Phaphama Fojela and Thandolwethu Mnyaka claimed 15 of them in a solid showing, Fojela picking up 5/32 in the first innings and 4/98 in the second, while Mnyaka got 3/42 and 3/75.
Border had a number of batsmen getting some good scores, opener Gionne Koopman scored 90, captain Martin Walters managed 73, big hitting Christiaan Jonker scored 75 and the ever dependable Darryl Brown hit an unbeaten 57 in Border's only innings.
But in the end the team had to settle from a draw and now will need to build on this as they travel to Bloemfontein where they play Free State next week.
The third day began with Fojela and Mnyaka reducing North West to 42/3 and in massive trouble.
But a 73 run partnership between Wihan Lubbe (44) and marques Ackerman (69) settled the ship.
However three more wickets went down, including Lubbe and Ackerman with North West slipping to 152/6, leaving Border still on course to gett the win.
A fantastic 147 run seventh wicket partnership between Brady Barends and Armandt Erasmus however then pretty much made the game safe for North West.
Erasmus fell for 72, but Barend stuck around and an unbeaten 50 run last wicket partnership between him and Julian Soutter (25) allowed Barend to score his first ever first class century and end on 105 not out when the game was called.
Border now take on North West in a one day match at Buffalo Park starting at 9:30am on Sunday morning.
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