Bears slip out of SBC as Dolphins snatch late victory

The Border Bears slipped out of the Standard Bank Cup at Kingsmead on Sunday when they went down to the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins by one wicket off the penultimate ball of the match. The Bears defeat gives Eastern Province the last semifinal spot and a meeting with the Dolphins. In the other semifinal, Western Province will play the North West Dragons.

The Bears needed not only to win, but also to earn a bonus point to keep alive their hopes of going further in the competition. In the end they achieved neither ambition although the Dolphins left it very late before last man in Gary Gilder slapped Monde Zondeki through the covers for the winnings boundary.

On a slow pitch Border never quite built a big enough total to press for victory as they were bowled out for 182. Craig Sugden made 46 and Burton de Wett chipped in with 38 before Vasbert Drakes hit 36 off 37 balls to give the tail a bit of a wag.

The Dolphins made heavy weather of their reply, however, before the vastly experienced Errol Stewart steered his side towards victory with an unbeaten 30 that proved the most significant contribution of the innings.

At the Wanderers, the Highveld Strikers ended a generally disappointing campaign with a five-wicket victory over the Free State Eagles as Daryll Cullinan issued another reminder to the national selectors.

Cullinan made an unbeaten 127, his highest domestic limited overs score, as he guided the Strikers into a winning position. The winning run, however, came from Grant Elliott who took a single off the last ball of the match.

Earlier, Morne van Wyk and Johan Beukes had put on 131 for the Free State first wicket with Van Wyk going on to make an unbeaten 114 as the visitors compiled 251 for three.