Border made a triumphant start to the 2017 CSA U17 Cricket week, hosted by Border in East London yesterday, as they sealed a win on first innings over Kwa Zulu-Natal Inland at Alfred Schoeman Park in Buffalo Flats.
It was an ideal way to get the week under way for the hosts.
“It was a tough wicket, the conditions are very tricky, so I think the guys have adapted well,” said Border coach Shannon Musto.
On a tough, turning pitch Border batted first and managed to score 173 all out, with Inland bowlers Mike Schlanders, 4/28, and Nkosinathi Nsuntsha, 3/10, impressing.
The batting effort was led by Border captain Akhanya Rebe, who top scored with 57, while an important 57-run seventh wicket stand between Emihle Mgoqi (39) and Yikha Nonelela (20) was vital in getting them to a challenging total.
“I am very happy to get some runs. It boosts the confidence and it was good to lead from the front,” said Rebe.
“But I could have done more. It wasn’t a good time to go out.
“There was still plenty of time to bat at that stage of the game, so it was unfortunate to go out then, when I could have gone on to get a big 50 or even 100.
“It wasn’t very easy batting on this pitch. It is very slow and turning a lot for the spinners, so you had to work hard and graft for the runs.”
The Border bowlers then put in a superb shift to knock over Inland for 140.
At one stage on 75/2 Inland were looking well in with a good chance of chasing down Border’s score, but despite Andre Bradford (41) and Schlanders (42) batting well, they lost their next eight wickets for 65 runs.
Six Border players picked up wickets, with Niel Phillip, 2/8, and Nonelela, 2/27, the pick of the lot, while there were also two run outs.
In their second innings Border reached 38 for no wicket when play was called for the day.
Border now head into their second game of the week, this time against Western Province at Hudson Park High School.
“We will take each day as it comes, but we want to play a certain brand of cricket and I think if we can do that and stick to our guns the success will follow naturally,” concluded Musto.
Good opening start has Border fired up against Inland side
It was an ideal way to get the week under way for the hosts.
“It was a tough wicket, the conditions are very tricky, so I think the guys have adapted well,” said Border coach Shannon Musto.
On a tough, turning pitch Border batted first and managed to score 173 all out, with Inland bowlers Mike Schlanders, 4/28, and Nkosinathi Nsuntsha, 3/10, impressing.
The batting effort was led by Border captain Akhanya Rebe, who top scored with 57, while an important 57-run seventh wicket stand between Emihle Mgoqi (39) and Yikha Nonelela (20) was vital in getting them to a challenging total.
“I am very happy to get some runs. It boosts the confidence and it was good to lead from the front,” said Rebe.
“But I could have done more. It wasn’t a good time to go out.
“There was still plenty of time to bat at that stage of the game, so it was unfortunate to go out then, when I could have gone on to get a big 50 or even 100.
“It wasn’t very easy batting on this pitch. It is very slow and turning a lot for the spinners, so you had to work hard and graft for the runs.”
The Border bowlers then put in a superb shift to knock over Inland for 140.
At one stage on 75/2 Inland were looking well in with a good chance of chasing down Border’s score, but despite Andre Bradford (41) and Schlanders (42) batting well, they lost their next eight wickets for 65 runs.
Six Border players picked up wickets, with Niel Phillip, 2/8, and Nonelela, 2/27, the pick of the lot, while there were also two run outs.
In their second innings Border reached 38 for no wicket when play was called for the day.
Border now head into their second game of the week, this time against Western Province at Hudson Park High School.
“We will take each day as it comes, but we want to play a certain brand of cricket and I think if we can do that and stick to our guns the success will follow naturally,” concluded Musto.
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