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
Lhuan-dre Pretorius’ maiden List A century helped the Northerns Titans secure their first win of the One-Day Cup season, while there were also victories for the EP Warriors, KZN Dolphins and Free State Knights on Wednesday.
Eighteen-year-old Pretorius – who starred for the Paarl Royals in the recent SA20 – blasted a 96-ball 120, which included seven sixes and 11 fours, in a 41-run win against defending champions Western Province at Newlands.
Important knocks from Keegan Petersen (48), Dewald Brevis (42) and Dayyaan Galiem (48*) also lifted the visitors to an imposing 337-7.
Despite the sizable total, Jody Lawrence impressed with the ball for WP with 3-44.
Half-centuries by Valentine Kitme 87 off 94 balls (nine fours, two sixes), David Bedingham (69 off 64 balls; six fours, one six) and Kyle Verreynne (55 off 49 balls; five fours) provided Province with a sound backbone for the chase.
The hosts got to 239-4 at one stage, but Matthew Boast (5-38) played a telling role to help dismiss the opposition for 296.
Meanwhile in Durban, the Dolphins overcame the Central Gauteng Lions by six wickets in a rain-reduced affair at Kingsmead.
Delano Potgieter top-scored for the visitors with 56* off 54 balls (five fours, one six) in a total of 183-9 in 43 overs that came after their opponents won the toss and fielded.
Spinner Prenelan Subrayen was the best of the bowlers with 4-46.
In reply, Bryce Parsons (81* off 94 balls; six fours, one six) led the way, together with 52 off 57 balls (three fours, two sixes) by Jon-Jon Smuts, as the hosts eased to their target with 3.1 overs to spare.
Victories for the Dolphins and Titans were their first of the season, while Boland suffered their first defeat when they went down to the Free State Knights by 21 runs in Bloemfontein.
The visitors, who won three from three before Wednesday’s encounter, bowled first after losing the toss with the hosts bowled out for 249.
Dominic Hendricks (55 off 76 balls; one four, one six) and Seth Fledermaus (52 off 59 balls; two fours) hit half-centuries, while Akhona Mnyaka and Imran Manack both bagged 2-35.
There were plenty of starts in the chase but no one managed to kick on for Boland – something that proved key. Michael Copeland’s 45 was their best effort as Tiaan van Vuuren grabbed 4-39.
In the end the Knights restricted them to 228-9.
Finally, in Potchefstroom, the Warriors were 121-run winners over the North West Dragons.
Senuran Muthusamy (93 off 82 balls; six fours, three sixes) and Andile Mogakane (58 off 62 balls; seven fours, two sixes) top-scored for the visitors as they posted 278-8.
The Dragons’ reply was a poor one as they fell for 157 in just over 40 overs.
Jason Raubenheimer proved the most successful bowler in a fine all-round effort with the ball by collecting 3-34.
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
A second successive unbeaten century from Dian Forrester guided the Free State Knights to their first win of the One-Day Cup season on Saturday.
The Knights demolished Western Province by 157 runs in Bloemfontein, while Boland beat the EP Warriors by three wickets in Gqeberha.
All-rounder Forrester was the star at the Mangaung Oval where 311-6 played 154 all out.
The 24-year-old, who struck 123* in the Knights’ rained-out affair against the Warriors in midweek, blasted 113* off 99 balls (four fours, five sixes) this time around to bolster his side to a formidable total after winning the toss and batting. He now has 257 run in three in innings.
There were also significant contributions by Patrick Botha (43), Malusi Siboto (40) and Tiaan Van Vuuren, who smashed four sixes in an 18-ball unbeaten 41.
The latter then claimed 3-16 in 5.4 overs to help the hosts blow away the defending champions in 34.4 overs.
George Linde (37) and Kyle Simmonds (35*) were the only two batsmen to cross the 30 mark – Province slumping to their second loss in three in the process.
Meanwhile, at St George’s Park, spinners Imran Manack and Shaun von Berg played key roles with the bat to help Boland chase down 198 with 11 balls to spare.
After winning the toss and bowling, the visiting bowlers responded well by limiting their hosts to under 200 in 43.4 overs.
Ayabulela Gqamane was the pick of the bowlers with 3-24, while there were doubles for Manack (2-48), Lehan Botha (2-28) and Akhona Mnyaka (2-32).
Boland then found themselves in huge trouble at 103-6 and then 128-7 as Alfred Mothoa (3-34) and Senuran Muthusamy (2-35) offered excellent control with the ball.
However, Von Berg (49*) and Manack (37*) combined for an unbroken 73-run eighth wicket stand that sealed the win.
Photo: Charle Lombard/Gallo Images
Lutho Sipamla took four wickets as the Central Gauteng Lions beat Western Province by 40 runs in the One-Day Cup on Saturday.
The Proteas paceman claimed 4-43 in nine overs as the hosts were bowled out for 219 in pursuit of 260 – a total built around former home favourite Zubayr Hamza’s 56 off 79 balls (three fours, one six).
After winning the toss and batting, the visitors were in trouble at 65-3 when Kyle Simmonds (3-40) struck to remove Joshua Richard (29) and Reeza Hendricks (32) after Dane Paterson (2-44) accounted for Wandile Makwetu for a third-over duck.
Mitchell van Buuren (48) and Hamza then rebuilt the innings by putting on 104 for the fourth wicket.
Though both fell before the 200 came up, Connor Esterhuizen (38), Delano Potgieter (17) and the explosive Codi Yusuf (18* off eight balls) took the Johannesburg-based side past 250.
The hosts also struggled during the early part of their chase when they fell to 71-4, with Bjorn Fortuin (2-40) and Yusuf (1-31) largely responsible for the Lions’ early stronghold.
Edward Moore (66 off 94 balls; three fours, two sixes) and captain George Linde (55 off 58 balls; six fours) strung together a partnership of 90 that finally ended in the 37th over.
Sipamla broke the stand and then got rid of Moore and two others as the hosts were bowled out for 219 in 46.5 overs.
There was also a good win on the opening day of the tournament for the North West Dragons, who beat the Free State Knights by four wickets in Potchefstroom.
The Knights posted 257 thanks to a blazing 85 off 77 balls from Jacques Snyman (five fours, three sixes) and useful contributions from Patrick Botha (40) and Dominic Hendricks (29).
Ruan de Swardt (3-44), Kerwin Mungroo (2-35) and Matthew Kleinveldt (2-39) all picked up wickets for the hosts.
Janneman Malan (90 off 118 balls; six fours, one six) and Kleinveldt (42) gave their side a good start to the chase, and even though the Dragons lost wickets regularly, they kept up with the required run rate thanks to the former holding up one end.
Malan was eventually the last batsman to fall with the total on 220, but by that time there had been handy contributions from Rubin Hermann (30), captain Lesiba Ngoepe (24) and Tahir Isaacs (21).
De Swardt (19*) and Migael Pretorius (23*) then ended the game in a hurry with the Dragons sealing victory with 3.1 overs to spare.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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