First league players of the Grahamstown Cricket Board who make up the Eastern Province Rural team enjoyed a convincing 84-run win over Border Kei in their final Cricket South Africa Rural competition match played at the Khaya Majola Oval in Umtata on Saturday.
First league players of the Grahamstown Cricket Board who make up the Eastern Province Rural team enjoyed a convincing 84-run win over Border Kei in their final Cricket South Africa Rural competition match played at the Khaya Majola Oval in Umtata on Saturday.
The victory also saw EP Rural pick up a valuable bonus point in the process. Starring in their win were veteran spinner Chesley Daniels and middle order batsman Carl Van Niekerk.
Chesley bowled with great control and used his experience to great effect, claiming four wickets for 22 runs in his 10 overs.
Meanwhile Van Niekerk rescued his side after a dismal start, top scoring a flamboyant 55 runs off 76 balls, including four 4s and one 6. The two also shared a 30-run partnership for the ninth wicket.
Border won the toss and sent EP in to bat in wet and overcast conditions. Melville Daniels (5), Brandon Handley (12) and Kevin Bennet (2) were all soon back in the pavilion with the score on 38 as the Border bowlers took full advantage of the conditions.
EP lost wickets at regular intervals and couldn't really get going at the crease. Newcomer Nick Gailey (14) and Steven Gornal (17) looked set to change this but lost their wickets due to inconsistent bounce.
It was then left to the lower order batsmen who stood firm and patiently tried to work with the pitch. Van Niekerk played well and kept the scoreboard ticking with some sensible cricket until the end.
His 55 runs as well as the valuable knocks of Warren Bowdler (16), Chesley (14) and Siyabulela Nxuzulu (12) made it possible for them to get to the defendable total of 188.
EP were bowled out with five overs to spare. Border's best bowlers on the day were Ayanda Dlala and Thembelethu Mtya who took three wickets apiece.
The EP bowlers on either side of the wickets lacked early discipline during Border's turn at the crease, sending them off to a decent start.
Bowdler claimed the first wicket before EP introduced Chesley, their most experienced member, who rocked the top order from the 10th over.
Spinner Mtunzi Antoni also claimed two wickets for three runs in his two overs, while Melville, Bennet and Gornal took one wicket apiece. Siko Nomavila (19) top scored for Border.
EP now looks forward to the National Cricket Week in Limpopo from 20-26 February.
