Pope steers Border nearer to final

Steven Pope struck his third first-class century on Friday to take Border to the brink of their third successive Supersport Series final as they moved into a dominant position halfway through their encounter at Buffalo Park.

At the close, Pope was unbeaten on a blemish-free 104, made off 209 balls and including 13 boundaries, while Laden Gamiet had yet to score. That left Border on 235 for four in their second knock, 274 ahead after they had bowled out Boland for 153 on Friday morning.

After slumping from their precarious overnight 87 for five to 106 for nine, courtesy of a three-wicket blitz from Piet Botha, Boland had last man in Henry Williams, who smashed 33 off 28 balls, to thank for getting them within 39 runs of Border's first innings total and ensuring they got one batting bonus point, to leave the points race even on five each.

By the close, though, matters were anything but even, with Border looking to bat the visitors out of the contest and succeeding thus far, thanks mainly to Pope, who added 128 with skipper Pieter Strydom (63) for the fourth wicket.

Should Border win, and it seems likely with Geoff Love, who took four for 26 in the first innings, sure to prove even more effective as the game wears on, they would be virtually out of sight of the two teams looking to leapfrog them into the final, given that Easterns, who trailed them by three points going into the match, are fighting for their lives against North West.

That would give the men from East London the chance of making it third time lucky in the final, appropriately against Province, who outclassed them in their first appearance in the showpiece match two seasons ago.