Boland celebrate reaching a first home Cricket SA 1-Day Cup final since 1999. Picture: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Boland Rocks secured a home Cricket SA 1-Day Cup final by defeating neighbours Western Province in the final league match at Boland Park in Paarl on Sunday.
Boland will now host the 1-Day Cup final for the first time since they lifted the limited-overs trophy before their home supporters back in 1999.
Much like the Paarl Royals team who dominated their home matches with spin during Betway SA20, Boland have utilised a similar spin-dominated strategy.
Their slow bowlers came to the fore yet again against Province with Shaun von Berg (3/44), Aviwe Mgijima (2/27), Imran Manack (2/32) and Siya Mahima (2/17) combining excellently. Province could only manage 182 in 46 overs, despite the return of Proteas Tony de Zorzi and George Linde from ICC Champions Trophy duty.
Boland had little trouble chasing it down with former Province batter Gavin Kaplan (46) and Blayde Campbell (59) steering the hosts comfortably home with five wickets remaining to secure top spot on the table and automatic qualification for the final.
Province, who were the defending champions, closed off a miserable campaign and finished in last position having won just one of their seven matches and are now in danger of being relegated to Division 2.
Dewald Brevis. Picture: Sportzpics
Image: Sportzpics
The Titans, meanwhile, claimed an all-important victory over the Knights by seven wickets to move into second position on 21 points.
The Knights, meanwhile, drop down to fourth place on 16 points and are out of the running for the playoffs.
Dewald Brevis struck a sensational 83 not out off just 38 balls (8x4, 7x6) along with half-centuries from Keegan Petersen (59 not out) and captain Neil Brand (66) to steer the Titans comfortably past the Knights’ 230.
Meanwhile, the Warriors snuck into the final remaining playoff spot by the barest of margins with a Duckworth-Lewis victory over the Lions at St George’s Park in Gqeberha.
The Lions posted a strong 279/5, courtesy of half-centuries from Connor Esterhuizen (87 not out) and Mitchell van Buuren (56), but the Warriors replied with 124/1 in just 22.2 overs to claim the much-needed points.
Robin Peterson’s team finished level on 21 points with the Titans, but are in third place due to an inferior net run-rate of 0.743 compared to 1.012.
The Dolphins were edged out of the playoffs in fourth position (19 points) despite a seven-wicket DLS method win over North West Dragons in Potchefstroom
The Dolphins replied with 216/3 (34.5 overs) in response to the Dragons’ 246/7 when the heavens opened.
The playoff between the Titans and Warriors is scheduled for Centurion on Wednesday, 12 March. The winner will face Boland Rocks on Sunday in Paarl.