ANDY CAPOSTAGNO, Paarl | Thursday 9.00am.
BOLAND beat Eastern Province by 36 runs in Paarl to win the Standard Bank Cup, the province’s first trophy in senior cricket.
Boland made 209/6 in their 45 overs after winning the toss and then restricted EP to 173/8 in reply.
Boland based their score around a fine half century from Justin Ontong and some lusty hitting from Steve Palframan and Bradley Player. In trouble at 89-4, Ontong and Palframan set the ball rolling with a fine fifth wicket partnership of 90. It was ended when Ontong was caught behind off Garnett Kruger for 67, made from 73 balls with three fours and a six.
Palframan was run out for 38 off the next ball when Kruger got a foot to a straight drive and deflected the ball onto the non-striker’s stumps. But Player ensured the momentum continued with a typically fierce 22 off just 12 deliveries which included two huge sixes.
When EP batted a brisk opening spell from Charl Langeveldt pegged them back. Langeveldt bowled Carl Bradfield for a duck and Mark Benfield for five and ended with the fine figures of 2/32 from his nine overs.
Dave Callaghan did his best to rekindle the fire that saw him earn the man of the match awards in two of the three semi-final legs against Gauteng, but when he was caught behind for 42 in the 36th over the match as a contest was over. Callaghan was one of two victims for young left arm spinner Con de Lange who finished with 2-27 from his nine overs.
The victory marked a remarkable double for the tournament. For many years Boland were a B section province losing their top players to the likes of Western and Eastern Province. Now they have followed fellow minnows Griqualand West, last years champions, into the record books of the Standard Bank Cup.