Goldrush Boland shrugged aside World Sports Betting Western Province with a convincing five-wicket victory, with 39 balls to spare, in the CSA One-Day Cup at Boland in Paarl on Sunday to book their spot in the final next Sunday.
The victory foundation was laid by the home side’s spinners after Clyde Fortuin won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Shaun von Berg (10-0-44-3), Aviwe Mgijima (10-1-27-2), Imran Manack (10-1-32-2) and Siya Mahima (3.2-0-17-2) stifled the visiting batting line-up, bowling out WP for 182 inside 46 overs. In reply, a half-century from Blayde Capell (59) and support from Gavin Kaplan (46) guided the hosts to 183 for five from 43.3 overs to seal top spot and automatic qualification for the final.
The chase was a measured approach with Capell and Grant Roelofsen (29) setting the tone with an opening stand of 64 from 100 deliveries. Kyle Simmonds (5.1-11-1) broke the opening stand, clean-bowling Roelofsen, who had faced 53 balls, striking three boundaries.
The loss of Roelofsen’s wicket did not present an opening for the visitors as Capell and Kaplan continued the march to victory with a 59-run stand for the second wicket off 84 balls. With Province losing their leading wicket-taker, Simmonds, George Linde (10-1-31-1) stepped up to dismiss Capell, caught on the long-on fence by Ollie Whitehead, who was on for the injured Simmonds.
A few nerves were felt around the ground as Wesley Bedja (7-0-27-3) trapped Kaplan in front, castled Mgijima (25) and then sending Lehan Botha (8) back to the hut leg before. Kaplan faced 96 balls, striking three fours and a six, while Mgijima struck three fours in his 36-ball stay.
However, Fortuin (7 not out) and Von Berg (1 not out) knocked off the final two runs needed for victory.
Earlier, Province had made a steady start with the opening pair of Eddie Moore (51) and Tony de Zorzi (32) adding 62 from 85 balls before Aya Gqamane (5-0-22-1) broke through, having De Zorzi caught at mid-on by Mahima.
De Zorzi looked to be finding some form again, striking five boundaries in 42 balls before trying to slap Gqamane back over his head, only to find Mahima at mid-on. David Bedingham failed to find the boundary in his 19 balls before finding substitute fielder, Nathan Jacobs at long-off from the bowling of Von Berg.
Von Berg then nabbed Bennie Hansen, trying to cut only to find the bottom edge through to Fortuin behind the stumps. Moore then went shortly thereafter, being cleaned-up by Mgijima after striking three fours and a six from 73 balls.
George Linde (38) and captain Kyle Verreynne (29) steadied the ship somewhat with a stand worth 41 from 47 balls for the fifth wicket but then Verreynne clipped a ball from Mgijima straight to Gavin Kaplan at short mid-wicket.
Von Berg then had Onke Nyake caught at short extra cover by Lehan Botha without scoring before Manack trapped Kyle Simmonds (7) in front and having Dane Paterson (3) caught by Von Berg at short extra cover.
Mahima then cleaned up the tail, trapping Linde in front and then clean-bowling debutante Asakhe Tsaka with a beautiful Yorker for three.
BOLAND: Blayde Capell, Grant Roelofsen, Gavin Kaplan, Aviwe Mgijima, Clyde Fortuin (capt, wk), Lehan Botha, Aya Gqamane, Shaun von Berg, Imran Manack, Glenton Stuurman, Siya Mahima.
WESTERN PROVINCE: Tony de Zorzi, Eddie Moore, David Bedingham, Bennie Hansen, Kyle Verreynne (capt, wk), George Linde, Kyle Simmonds, Onke Nyaku, Dane Paterson, Wesley Bedja, Asakhe Tsaka.