Border ends off week on a high
Brilliant allround performances from Border captain Matt Dewar and Nonelela Yikha helped the team end their 2018 Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week on a high with a tight seven-run win over Namibia at Langa Cricket Club in Cape Town on Thursday afternoon.
Dewar struck a wonderful century, eventually going out for 102 and picked up 3/27 with the ball, while Yikha scored an impressive unbeaten 71 and claimed 3/28, which sealed Border their third win at the week.
After a tough start that saw Border struggle in both their time (declaration) cricket games, it was a good way to end off with three wins in their last four matches, winning a rain-affected T20 encounter and the final two 50-over matches.
Border set Namibia 222 to win due to the efforts of Dewar and Yikha.
Namibia's chase then got off to a blistering start thanks to opening batsman Shaun Fouche, who hammered his way to a quick-fire half century, despite the loss of an early wicket.
He had led his team to a commanding 110/1 in the 21st over and looking odds on to chase down the score when Dewar made the vital breakthrough, getting Fouche for 73 off 74 balls (12x4; 1x6), with him and Yikha then tearing through the Namibians middle order as they crashed to 163/7.
Some late hitting from number nine batsman Divan la Cock (27) almost pulled Namibia back into the match, but they were eventually all out for 214.
Batting first Border got off to the worst possible start as opener Siyamthanda Zini was bowled for a third ball duck by Ben Shikongo in the first over of the game.
Dewar however then joined Ryan Kruger at the crease and they set about steadying the innings with a measured 58-run second wicket stand.
Kruger was looking good for his 24 off 44 balls (3x4; 1x6) but was then caught by Matthew de Gouvela off the bowling of Mauritius Ngupita in the 18th over. This brought Yikha in and along with Dewar they confidently batted Border into a strong position.
They took Border past the 100-mark in the 30th over and in the next Dewar brought up his half century off 92 balls with a driven single.
They crossed the 150-run mark with a boundary at the end of the 38th over.
Dewar then brought up a well-deserved century with a single at the end of the 42nd over, with his second 50 coming off just 39 deliveries.
However their superb 117-run partnership was then broken in the 44th over, with Dewar caught for 102 off 135 balls (13x4) and Border on 175/3.
Yikha then took over control and played a few impressive shots as he took himself past 50 and dragged Border over the 200-run mark, while a few more wickets fell he eventually finished unbeaten on 71 off 101 balls (6x4; 1x6).
Border may have just missed the extra muscle of a big-hitting lower order batsman who could have tried to help them reach the 250-mark...
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