Boland secured their place in the One-Day Cup final with victory over Western Province in Paarl on Sunday.
They will face either the Northerns Titans or EP Warriors after both won their final regular-season fixtures to reach the playoff between second and third on the log, with the KZN Dolphins missing out despite also emerging victorious in round seven.
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Boland eased past their rivals by five wickets in a low-scoring affair that saw the visitors bowled out for just 182 in 45.2 overs after being asked to bat first in the Cape derby.
Shaun von Berg (3-44), Imran Manack (2-32), Siyabonga Mahima (2-17) and Aviwe Mgijima (2-27) were all among the wickets for the hosts, with Eddie Moore (51 off 73 balls; three fours, one six) the top-scorer for Province.
Blayde Capell then anchored the chase with 59 off 96 balls (three fours, one six) with Gavin Kaplan hitting 46 as the hosts patiently hunted down the target with just under seven overs to spare.
The result ensured they moved to an unassailable 25 points at the summit and they will now host the final this Sunday.
They will meet either the in-form Titans or Warriors.
The former, who have been in destructive form in recent rounds, smashed the Knights by seven wickets in a winner-takes-all affair in Bloemfontein where Dewald Brevis plundered seven sixes and eight fours in an unbeaten 38-ball 83 to help his side chase down a target of 231 in just 38.3 overs.
He was helped by half-centuries from Neil Brand (66 off 85 balls, six fours) and Keegan Petersen (59* off 89 balls; five fours) at the Mangaung Oval.
Earlier, Patrick Botha stuck a century for the Knights when he hit 109 off 146 balls (nine fours), but he lacked support as Dayyaan Galiem grabbed 3-32.
The hosts were all out for 230 in 50 overs and then succumbed to the ruthless Titans’ batsmen to miss out on the knockouts.
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In Gqeberha, the Warriors overcame the Central Gauteng Lions by 33 runs on the DLS method.
The match made it to 72.2 overs with the visitors first batting and posting 279-5 at St George’s Park with half-centuries for Connor Esterhuizen (87 off 80 balls; five fours, four sixes) and Mitchell van Buuren (56 off 69 balls; four fours, one six).
The hosts came out attacking and reached 124-1 when rain intervened and ended the game prematurely. Jordan Hermann (40), Matthew de Villiers (49*) and Matthew Breetzke (30*) did more than enough for their side to ensure they qualified ahead of the Dolphins.
The KwaZulu-Natalians missed out despite beating the North West Dragons by seven wickets on the DLS method in Potchefstroom.
Batting first, the hosts posted 246-7 thanks largely to Wihan Lubbe (69 off 86 balls; five fours, one six) and Ruan de Swardt (45*).
Prenelan Subrayen was outstanding with the ball, picking up 2-22.
Jon-Jon Smuts (75 off 73 balls; 10 fours) and Jason Smith (61* off 64 balls; four fours, one six) then both hit half-centuries as the Dolphins chased down their revised target, reaching 216-3 in 34.5 overs.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The KZN Dolphins crushed Western Province by 194 runs in their One-Day Cup match at Newlands on Friday.
The visitors posted 317-6 before a fine bowling display led by Prenelan Subrayen saw WP bowled out for 123.
The spinner claimed 3-27 and was supported expertly by Tristan Luus (3-36) and Ottniel Baartman (2-20) as the defending champions were dismissed in just 26.5 overs to stay bottom of the log.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, climbed to fourth and are now just three points off leaders Boland.
And they were fully deserved winners of their second win of the campaign after an excellent performance that was set up by their batsmen.
Veteran Jon-Jon Smuts struck 61 off 61 balls (eight fours) and Tshepang Dithole 67 off 82 balls (10 fours) during an opening partnership of 129.
That was followed by 48 from Bryce Parsons, before Hanu Viljoen (74 off 63 balls; eight fours) and Eathan Bosch (40* off 26 balls) provided the finishing touches to lift the Durban side beyond 300.
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In contrast, WP were under the pump from the get-go after both openers, Edward Moore and Valentine Kitime, fell for ducks.
Their struggles continued right the way through after they slipped to 22-3, though they were rescued from complete annihilation by Proteas batsman David Bedingham (45), one of just two WP batsmen to hit double figures.
They then slipped from 62-3 to 78-8 in a matter of 6.4 overs, with Kyle Simmonds (30) ensuring they at least crossed 100, before being last man out in a big loss.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
Wihan Lubbe’s 80 helped the North West Dragons overcome the Central Gauteng Lions by 65 runs (DLS method) in their One-Day Cup encounter at the Wanderers on Sunday.
The left-hander struck four fours and five sixes in a 64-ball innings for his side as they amassed 310-6 while Matthew Kleinveldt (64 off 61 balls; seven fours, one six) and Lesiba Ngoepe (53* off 39 balls; four fours, two sixes) also hit half-centuries.
Ruan de Swardt and Kerwin Mungroo then claimed three wickets each to hand the men from Potchefstroom a second victory of the campaign – one that vaulted them into the top three – after the hosts were bowled out for 249.
Batting first, Rubin Hermann (47) and Janneman Malan (33) gave the Dragons a strong start, before Kleinveldt, Lubbe and Ngoepe ensured they set a daunting 311.
The Lions lost Muhammad Manack (nought) and Wandile Makwetu (nine) early in the chase, and when Reeza Hendricks was dismissed for 18 by Mungroo (3-36), they found themselves in a fix on 37-3 in the ninth over.
Zubayr Hamza (45) together with Mitchell van Buuren (50 off 57 balls; two fours, two sixes) and Connor Esterhuizen (59 off 54 balls; four fours, one six) gave them outside hope.
But they slipped to 155-6 and were largely chasing the game thereafter. De Swardt (3-34) managed two more wicket to kill off any hopes as the home side were all out in 45.2 overs.
It was an important win for the visitors, one that ensured the competition was wide open after three rounds of action in which log-leaders leaders Boland remained the only unbeaten side with three wins from three.
SATURDAY WRAP: Knights crush WP, Boland stay unbeaten
In Sunday’s other match, a heavy afternoon downpour in Centurion meant the Northerns Titans and KZN Dolphins had to share the points.
The Dolphins were bowled out for 305 in 48.5 overs after being asked to bat first at the toss.
Veteran Jon-Jon Smuts top-scored with 71 off 61 balls (10 fours, two sixes) with all-rounder Jason Smith hitting 50 off 58 balls (one four, one six).
Mathew Boast picked up 3-33, while Junior Dala took 3-71.
The Titans then reached 15-0 in 2.3 overs, before the heavens opened and brought a premature end to proceedings.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
Watch the One-Day Cup match between the Northerns Titans and KZN Dolphins in Centurion.
Fit-again Proteas seamer Ottniel Baartman has returned to the KZN Dolphins squad ahead of their One-Day Cup match against Boland in Paarl on Wednesday.
But the Dolphins will be without captain Marques Ackerman who picked up a hamstring injury in their loss to the EP Warriors at Kingsmead on Sunday.
“We were poor in all facets of the game and the Warriors just outplayed us,” said Dolphins head coach Quinton Friend. “They got a very big score and we set ourselves a target at 30 overs in our chase and we were actually with that target but we had lost too many wickets.
“It was a very disappointing performance, but we now have a good chance to bounce back this week with two big games.”
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Friend knows what to expect in Paarl.
“It will be a pitch that will take a bit of turn. We’ve got three spinners to choose from and we will have a good bowling attack for those conditions.
“We’re going to have to be smart in our decision-making with the bat because we could come up against a lot of spin.
“Looking at the first match in Paarl between Boland and the Titans, it was quite a scrappy affair. The Titans didn’t manage to get many runs which means we’re going to have to be very smart in how we approach that surface.
“It’s important that we are up for a scrap there. It’s not going to be easy, no game is easy in this competition but we are going to have to make sure we are on top of our game.”
KZN Dolphins squad: Andile Simelane, SJ Erwee, Khaya Zondo, Bryce Parsons, Prenelan Subrayen, Eathan Bosch, Jon-Jon Smuts, Tshepang Dithole, Hanu Viljoen, Tristan Luus, Banele Cele, Okuhle Cele, Romashan Pillay, Ottniel Baartman.
Photo: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images
Jordan Hermann’s unbeaten century helped the EP Warriors hammer the KZN Dolphins by 126 run in Durban on Sunday.
Hermann scored 148* off 145 balls (14 fours, four sixes) at Kingsmead, but there were also telling contributions by Beyers Swanepoel, who thrashed five sixes and six fours in a 43-ball 73*, and Matthew Breetzke, who hit 62 off 59 balls (three fours, three sixes).
The only wickets to fall were those of Diego Rosier (32) and Breetzke after he put on 116 for the second wicket with Hermann.
Swanepoel and Hermann then added an unbroken 150 for third wicket in just under 15 overs to punish the Dolphins and post 343-2.
In reply, the hosts could only manage 217 all out in 40.2 overs.
Former Warriors captain Jon-Jon Smuts top-scored with 58 off 46 balls (six fours, three sixes), while former KwaZulu-Natal all-rounder Andile Mogakane claimed 4-23 in 5.5 overs.
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There was also a significant five-wicket win for Boland over the Northerns Titans in Paarl.
Opting to bowl after winning the toss, Imran Manack produced stunning figures of 7.4-2-12-3 and Shaun von Berg 10-0-27-3 to help bowl out the visitors for 110 in 41.4 overs.
Dayyaan Galiem top-scored with 45 and the only other player to reach double figures was Roelof van der Merwe (23).
The veteran spinner then took 2-28 and was well supported by fellow slow bowler Tsepo Ndwandwa (3-21), but Boland got to their target in 36 overs, thanks largely to Gavin Kaplan’s 42*.
Photo: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images
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