Border 'B' beat Western Province 'B' by 9 runs

Border B put their disappointing performance in the the Bowl match behind them to squeeze out the hosts in a thrilling finale in the one day match. Tight bowling at the death saw the visitors to a narrow 9 run victory.

After winning the toss, the Border batsmen all chipped in towards a useful but not necessarily intimidating total. Several batsmen got going, but were thwarted by some good catching in the outfield, particularly by Andrew Puttick, normally at home in the slips, and Ryan Bailey.

Needing to bat at 4.5 to the over, the WP openers Derrin Bassage and Rashaad Magiet got off to a slow start only to be undone by some well directed bowling from Andrew Pringle. Puttick was then happy to play second fiddle to the aggressive Jonno McLean in a partnership of 100 for the third wicket. But disaster waited with the score on the dreaded Nelson, as both were dismissed on that total. The run out of Puttick was comical, with both batsmen running towards the same end after a major misunderstanding.

The middle order faltered thereafter, with 4 wickets falling for 17 runs. Wesley Euley then combined with William Hantam to add 55 for the 8th wicket in double quick time. Hantam was particularly enterprising, his clean hitting being rewarded with four sparkling boundaries. This partnership swung the balance in the home team's favour, bringing back the asking rate to a run a ball. Border's cause was not helped when Pringle returned for his closing spell and promptly conceded 10 runs in his first over.

Pringle had the last laugh when he bowled Hantam, trying to play a straight delivery to the leg side. At the other end, Euley went through a dry patch as he failed to score off nine successive deliveries. This swung the pendulum back in Border's favour. Although Euley then started to find the gaps again, he was undone by a fine catch on the boundary by Michael Matika.

The final over began with WP needing 10 for victory. Rory Kleinveldt played and missed at the first delivery, but connected with a powerful cross batted hit straight down the pitch off the second. He was left open-mouthed as Pringle dropped to the ground to take a stunning return catch. Lelethu Ntontela, who had earlier bowled impressively with the new ball, gallantly went for the big hit but was caught in the deep to give Border their triumph.