Some dynamic bowling by spinner Jason Niemand ensured that the Border semi-professional team ended their Sunfoil One-Day Cup campaign with en emphatic seven-wicket victory over the visiting KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) team at Buffalo Park yesterday.
Niemand claimed 6/31 – his best provincial figures – as KZN collapsed from 135 for three wickets to 183 all out. Seven wickets crashed for 48 runs as the batsmen struggled against the accurate, talented 19-year-old off-spinner.
After winning the toss, KZN decided to bat first and they were in immediate trouble when their opener, Dudu Zondo, was dismissed for four by 18-year-old left-hand medium-pacer Bradley Mauer.
The 18-year-old, who represented Border U17 last year, is another talented player, like Niemand, from the Hudson Park stable and was making his debut in List A matches.
After skipper Gionne Koopman grabbed a wicket, the advent of Niemand at the bowling crease turned the game around.
Looking for 184, Koopman went on the attack and he and opening partner, wicketkeeper Yamkela Oliphant, 25, added 66 off 14.1 overs to provide a fine platform for victory.
Koopman went on to score 66 with nine fours off 80 balls and was out at 128 for two wickets, with his team virtually assured of the win.
Kabelo Sekhukhune, who over the season has developed into an enterprising No3 batsman, continued the good work for Border with a splendid 58 not out off 69 balls with six boundaries and a six. He had the privilege of scoring the winning runs.
Niemand didn’t stay long – he scored only 16 – but he, too, scored a fine maximum over the ropes in his innings.
All-rounder Jerry Nqolo finished on 11 not out.
Coach Frank Plaatjes will be pleased with his young team’s showing in both the three-day and one-day campaigns.
Their attacking cricket augurs well for the future.
- On Saturday, the final day of the three-day Sunfoil Cup match, KZN declared on 176 for three wickets on the stroke of 12 noon with a lead of exactly 300. Border were set 301 to win in about 74 overs at just over four per over which was considered by all as an exceptionally fair target.
Two overs were bowled before lunch and both openers – Koopman and Mkhululi Calana – survived, although there was a huge appeal for lbw the last ball before lunch against Koopman.
However, the scoring rate dropped after lunch as some tight bowling and eager fielding denied Border any easy runs.
Eventually with dark clouds hovering overhead, the game was called off after 46 overs – an honourable draw – with Border on 117 for four wickets. Calana scored 55.
The final points position was 7.20 to KZN (4 bowling, 3.20 batting); Border 4 (all bowling).
The visitors topped Pool A with 178.9 points and Border finished in third place on the Pool A log with 133.54 points.
Great bowling rules the day
Niemand claimed 6/31 – his best provincial figures – as KZN collapsed from 135 for three wickets to 183 all out. Seven wickets crashed for 48 runs as the batsmen struggled against the accurate, talented 19-year-old off-spinner.
After winning the toss, KZN decided to bat first and they were in immediate trouble when their opener, Dudu Zondo, was dismissed for four by 18-year-old left-hand medium-pacer Bradley Mauer.
The 18-year-old, who represented Border U17 last year, is another talented player, like Niemand, from the Hudson Park stable and was making his debut in List A matches.
After skipper Gionne Koopman grabbed a wicket, the advent of Niemand at the bowling crease turned the game around.
Looking for 184, Koopman went on the attack and he and opening partner, wicketkeeper Yamkela Oliphant, 25, added 66 off 14.1 overs to provide a fine platform for victory.
Koopman went on to score 66 with nine fours off 80 balls and was out at 128 for two wickets, with his team virtually assured of the win.
Kabelo Sekhukhune, who over the season has developed into an enterprising No3 batsman, continued the good work for Border with a splendid 58 not out off 69 balls with six boundaries and a six. He had the privilege of scoring the winning runs.
Niemand didn’t stay long – he scored only 16 – but he, too, scored a fine maximum over the ropes in his innings.
All-rounder Jerry Nqolo finished on 11 not out.
Coach Frank Plaatjes will be pleased with his young team’s showing in both the three-day and one-day campaigns.
Their attacking cricket augurs well for the future.
Two overs were bowled before lunch and both openers – Koopman and Mkhululi Calana – survived, although there was a huge appeal for lbw the last ball before lunch against Koopman.
However, the scoring rate dropped after lunch as some tight bowling and eager fielding denied Border any easy runs.
Eventually with dark clouds hovering overhead, the game was called off after 46 overs – an honourable draw – with Border on 117 for four wickets. Calana scored 55.
The final points position was 7.20 to KZN (4 bowling, 3.20 batting); Border 4 (all bowling).
The visitors topped Pool A with 178.9 points and Border finished in third place on the Pool A log with 133.54 points.
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