Ntini rips through Eastern Province

Border gained the ascendancy on the first day of their four-day Supersport Series match against Eastern Province at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth on Friday.

South African pace bowler Makhaya Ntini took six for 59 as Eastern Province slumped to 177 all out after winning the toss and electing to bat.

Ntini and West Indian paceman Vasbert Drakes were extremely hostile in the morning which resulted in Ntini dismissing opener Graham Grace (6) and number three James Bryant (0) with the score on 10. Grace was caught at short leg by Ian Mitchell and Bryant edged a ball to first slip where Pieter Strydom took a sharp chance.

Drakes then trapped Dave Callaghan leg before for four although the score had crept to 39. Opener Carl Bradfield followed Callaghan when he was caught at deep square leg by Mitchell off Ntini. In the space of a few balls Justin Kemp and Murray Creed then followed and when Shafiek Abrahams was out for a duck, caught behind by Mark Boucher off Ntini, Eastern Province were on the ropes.

A 32-run stand between tailenders Robin Peterson and Johan Botha helped the scorecard towards a respectable figure, but Ntini broke that stand when Drakes caught Peterson at mid-off for 21.

Mitchell was then called into the attack and his long hops served up two wickets as he dismissed Botha for 23 and Wayne Murray for 39. The two put on 60-runs for the ninth wicket but a rush of blood from Botha saw him come down the track to a ball well outside the leg stump. Boucher made an excellent stumping.

Murray tried to slog Mitchell over long leg but failed to make enough contact and the ball sailed to Liam Graham who took a good catch and ended the Eastern Province innings.

Border lost the wicket of Carl Bradfield in the first over when he was adjudged leg before to Kemp for a duck. Mitchell was next to go when he edged Kemp to Abrahams at second slip for 14.

Boucher added 49 for the fourth-wicket with Steven Pope, but was dismissed for 20 shortly before the close of play. He edged a Murray Creed delivery to Murray.

Pope moved to his half century and will resume on Saturday with the total on 106 for three.