The North West Dragons enjoyed a perfect trip to East London against Border in both the shorter and longer formats, with two wins from two last weekend.
The Dragons’ best display came against Border in the CSA Provincial One Day encounter, which they won by 54 runs in an absolute run-fest at Buffalo Park on Sunday. The heroes for the Dragons were Kagiso ‘Jonty’ Rapulana, who hit an outstanding 151 (135) and Yassar Cook who contributed 123* (144) in a majestic 268-run partnership. This laid the foundation for the Dragons’ score of 329/2 in their 50 overs. Border managed 275 all out in their innings, with Dragons’ leg-spinner, Katle Leokoake, impressing with 5/56 to restrict the hosts and ensure a valuable victory for Monty Jacobs’ men.
Rapulana’s 151 was also his highest score in first-class cricket yet and this talented batsman has recorded three centuries in a row for the Dragons in one day cricket this season. ‘I am really enjoying white ball cricket on Sundays at the moment. I must give the coaching staff at the Dragons credit for giving me an opportunity to open in this format. I think the experience I gained in the national academy side that toured Sri Lanka helped me this season. I learnt a lot about how to approach the shorter format of the game,’ he said.
The Dragons were also involved in a cracker of a CSA Provincial 3-day cup encounter at the same venue from 22 to 24 November, which they won by 30 runs.
North West batted first and made 199, largely thanks to the captain, Brady Barends’ half-century and some lower order heroics from Jovaun van Wyngaardt (36) and Migael Pretorius (27). This became that much more important when Border was skittled out for a paltry 75 in their first innings. Craig Alexander (4/8) and Van Wyngaardt (3/17) had Border’s batsman bleeding with some fine fast bowling. They tore through the batsmen and had Border reeling at 27/6 at one stage. North West’s batsmen struggled in their second innings too and they only managed 153 all out. The wicketkeeper, Ruan Haasbroek, struck a brilliant 70 to change the game in the Dragons’ favour when it looked like Border’s bowlers had gained payback for their batting discretions. Border’s 34-year-old quick, Phaphama Fojela used his home ground knowledge to his advantage with figures of 5/39. In reply, Border could only manage 249 all out with Mncedisi Malika (49) and Gerald Bosch (46) putting up a fight until the very end. The experienced Craig Alexander with 6/71 completed his debut 10-wicket haul in the process, to take North West to a brilliant victory.