The Highveld Strikers, spearheaded by an unbeaten 90 from Adam Bacher, powered to a two wicket victory over Border in the Standard Bank Cup, which was played at the Wanderers on Sunday.
The result ensures that the Strikers — already assured of a place in the semi-finals — will entertain near neighbours the Titans at the Wanderers on Sunday February 22.
The Strikers, chasing an initial target 165 before the rain came down, had a reduced target of 152 off 39 overs. So as to ensure that they would have a home semi-final, they needed to achieve that target within 31,2 overs.
This they duly achieved with four-balls to spare, with Bacher striking an almighty six over square-leg.
It was a master class performance from man-of-the-match Bacher who struck nine fours and three sixes in his 91-ball innings.
Earlier Border — who had seen their faint hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals disappear in the rain at Benoni on Friday night — were unable to make any serious headway against a disciplined Strikers attack that bowled a tight line and length.
Overcast skies and a pitch that seamed about compounded Border’s problems and, other than Stephen Pope, the batsmen failed to put their collective heads down and graft.
And just when it seemed that a batsman was about to get on top, the Strikers fielders performed to the maximum, epitomised by Derek Crookes who had to dive backwards and to his left to pull off a brilliant catch to dismiss Justin Kreusch.
Popes’ undefeated 94-ball top score of 77 was not without chance, dropped by the wicketkeeper Ahmed Omar on 27 and former keeper Matthew Harris at deep square-leg on 65.
Garnet Kruger, with figures of 9-1-21-3, was the pick of an attack that was as parsimonious as a widow’s purse strings. – Sapa