The CSA Three-day Challenge match between Border and Easterns continued at Buffalo Park on Friday and there was some exciting play throughout, with the match see-sawing at times with first one side, then the other, taking the initiative.
After dismissing Easterns for 320 on Thursday, Border resumed their first innings on 39 for two wickets, but wickets began to tumble and both overnight batsmen – Brad Williams, 14, and Jason Niemand, 7 – were soon out.
Then a lively partnership of 45 for the fifth wicket between Mkhululi Calana and Mncedisi Malika revived Border’s hopes. Calana batted boldly and Malika’s square-cuts off the back foot were a delight to behold.
But 20 minutes before lunch, Malika was caught by Matthew Arnold for 17 off rampant left-arm speedster Rowan Richards, who was getting plenty of bounce and troubling all the batsmen. Five minutes later, Calana was out after scoring a solid 40, a fourth victim of Richards who had figures of 4/9 off 11 overs at that stage.
Lunch was taken with Border on 113 for six and Easterns undoubtedly had visions of a huge first-innings lead.
After lunch, both Malwande Zamo, 5, and Bamanye Xenxe, 8, were dismissed by leg-spinner Dyllan Matthews with Border on 161/8 and in deep trouble.
Meanwhile, top Border batsman Marco Marais was batting sensibly, looking for the right ball to hit. However he desperately needed someone to stay with him, with Border 159 in arrears.
Enter Phaphama Fojela, veteran bowler, but no mug with the bat. The two immediately showed no mercy on the Easterns’ bowlers. Fojela hit Matthews for three sixes inside two overs and Marais went to his sixth first-class century.
Fojela’s third half-century came up off only 68 balls with five fours and three sixes and eventually the two added 153 in only 101 minutes before Fojela had his stumps rattled by Grant Thomson when taking a swing at the bowling.
Marais was finally caught for 123, a second victim of Thomson. Easterns took a five-run lead and shortly before close of play, the visitors were 115/0...