Border fail to respond to challenge from Eastern Province

Eastern Province and Border drew their four-day Supersport Series match at St. George's Park in Port Elizabeth on Monday. Set a target of 279 in a minimum of 78 overs, Border never seriously entertained the idea of winning the match and by the close of play were on 215 for six in 84.3 overs.

Slow left-arm bowler Robin Peterson took five for 87 in an impressive spell of 35 overs on the trot. Earlier in the day Eastern Province scored 332 in their second innings, having resumed the day on 276 for six.

Play started half an hour earlier than usual due to lost time on Sunday as a result of inclement weather. Peterson and Shafiek Abrahams came out in the morning and took the score to 303 before Peterson was dismissed.

He edged a catch to wicketkeeper Ian Mitchell off paceman Makhaya Ntini for 36. West Indian fast bowler Vasbert Drakes then had Abrahams caught by Geoff Love for 36.

The final two wickets fell quickly with Ntini dismissing Johan Botha for seven. He was caught behind by Mitchell and the keeper then made a fine stumping off the slow left-arm Pieter Strydom to get rid of Wayne Murray for nine.

Border started slowly and soon stumbled to 81 for four which gave the hosts a glimmer of hope. But once the stutter was rectified time had run out for Eastern Province and the visitors saw play through to the close.

Craig Sugden was first to go, caught at mid-wicket by Dave Callaghan off Peterson for 23 with the total on 51. Steven Pope was trapped leg before by Callaghan for two. Wayne Wiblin joined Mitchell and the two moved the score to 81. Mitchell fell to Peterson when he was caught behind by Murray for 37.

In the next Peterson over Strydom was caught leg before without scoring. Laden Gamiet and Wiblin steadied the innings and took the score to 135 before the next wicket fell. Gamiet was bowled by Peterson for 25.

Drakes was his usual aggressive self, but holed out to mid on where Carl Bradfield took the catch off Peterson. Drakes made 18.

Wiblin (64) and Boucher (33) safely negotiated the visitors to the end without any further incident which earned Border six bonus points and Eastern Province five.