Puttick and Bruyns help Western Province and Border to wins

Western Province and Border moved closer to the top of their respective groups with wins against Eastern Province and Griqualand West in the second round of the Standard Bank Cup.

In Cape Town Western Province's Andrew Puttick batted through the innings in scoring his maiden limited overs century out of a total of 231for the loss of two wickets. Opening the innings the young 21-year-old left-hander ended undefeated on 113 off 132 balls including 12 fours and a big six off the bowling of Mornantau Hayward. Puttick was also involved in a 147 run partnership with captain HD Ackerman who contributed 74 off 93 balls.

Eastern Province chasing 232 for their first win in the tournament, started off well with Carl Bradfield (22) and Michael Price (34) laying a foundation with a 50 run partnership before a middle order collapse left the visitors on 72 for five wickets.

Two wickets apiece for Charl Willoughby and Renier Munnik broke the back of the Jumbos innings putting the remaining batsmen under tremendous pressure and a position that the Jumbos could not recover from. Munnik took a further wicket to end on 3/37.

James Bryant tried hard but he fought a lone battle ending on 58*. Together with Garnet Kruger, scoring his highest limited overs score of 20*, they took Eastern Province to 213/8 and denied Western Province the bonus point.

Border Bears and Griqualand West Diamonds, both with the chance of moving to the top of Pool A, met in East London where the visitors won the toss and elected to field first.

After losing the early wicket of Burton de Wett for one, Border soon recovered with Mark Bruyns (55) holding up one end allowing pinch hitter Tyron Henderson to post a quick 26 off 20 balls including four boundaries.

A 53 off 59 balls from Steven Pope and an undefeated 48 from Pieter Strydom, whose first boundary sailed over the ropes for the only six of the innings, maintained the Border run rate at five runs an over.

Two run outs from Craig Sugden and Laden Gamiet caused some jitters in the dressing room before a run-a-ball 23 from Justin Kreusch saw Border reach 221 for seven wickets in the allotted 45 overs.

Griqualand West started off well with Pieter Koortzen and Loots Bosman putting together a 49 run partnership for the first wicket before Bosman, playing an uncharacteristic subdued innings, was caught for 24 and Koortzen run out for 35.

Wickets fell at regular intervals but Wendell Bossenger (33) and Adrian McLaren (32) gave the visitors a glimmer of hope with a 58 run partnership in 45 balls, this after Strydom has captured three cheap wickets.

At the end Griqualand West were bowled out for 203 in 43.5 overs leaving Border with a 18 run win, but no bonus point.