Eastern Province (EP) captain Grant Howell struck some lusty blows to take his team to an inspired five-wicket victory over Border in the annual Mercedes-Benz Challenge cricket match at Mercedes-Benz Park in East London on Friday.
Coming in with just on six overs remaining and with 39 runs to win, he blazed away, striking 22 off 16 balls, including three fours.
He had the pleasure of hitting the winning run off his opposition skipper, Justin Kresuch.
EP had received a solid start from their openers, Lazo Dipha and Lyall Meyer, but at 83 a brilliant pick-up and throw by Michael Smith had Dipha stranded by millimetres.
At that stage, EP were batting at the required run rate but some tight bowling by Michael Mattka and Steven Pope pegged them back somewhat and the run rate climbed.
Earlier, Border had battled to score 184 for nine in their allotted 45 overs. They had veteran Steven Pope to thank. He held the innings together as wickets crashed all around him.
Selecting the right ball to hit, Pope scored a workmanlike innings of 60 not out, scored off 73 balls and including five fours in an innings that took 109 minutes.
Kreusch had batted well for his 42, but he was out to a freak run-out when bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe, in fielding the ball played defensively by Pope, diverted the ball on to the wicket.
Minutes later, Tsotsobe was again in action when he ran the full length of the pitch to shatter the stumps and run out Michael Matika, who was slow in getting back into his crease.
Later, Donavan Lentz had the misfortune to be run out without facing a ball. — Sapa