Dafabet Boland put to bed last year’s final’s super over demons with a win over World Sports Betting Eastern Storm to remain unbeaten in the YesPlay Pro20 Cup on Thursday night, following a tie at 164 runs apiece after each side played their 20 overs.
In one of only two matches scheduled for the day, the hosts were put in to bat first at Boland Park after Easterns won the toss.
They lost the early wicket of Neil Brand but recovered well with Blayde Capell and Gavin Kaplan combining for a 71-run second-wicket partnership, until Capell was dismissed one run short of his half-century.
Kaplan had no such problems as he remained unbeaten for 74, while Lehan Botha’s 20 and Ferisco Adams’ cameo 16* helped them to a 164 for four total.
In reply, the visitors also suffered an early blow with opener Brayden Hicks back in the change room for just three runs.
Ronan Herrmann eventually departed for 54 as he and Christopher Britz wrestled back power with a solid rebuild of the innings, with Jurie Snyman also recording a half ton in their attempt to cover the deficit.
A chance to end their winless run came with the last ball of the match but Snyman was run out trying to push for the decisive run, dramatically ending the match on a tie and Super Over required.
He came out with a strong nine runs in the decider alongside Dewan Marais as Easterns finished on 11, but it wasn’t enough as Adams became the ultimate hero for Boland with 10 not out as they scored 15 despite losing Brand in the middle of the over, securing their third win in as many games.
WARRIORS BEAT CAPE HEAT
In Gqeberha, Defabet Warriors took over the top spot in pool B after a seven-wicket victory over Northern Cape Heat in a low-scoring affair.
The latter opted to bat first after winning the toss, but a below-par display from their top order was their undoing, with Gerhardus Maree their top scorer with just 24 runs.
Neil Jordan and Tshepo Ntuli each put up 14 as they finished their innings with a paltry 83 in 20 overs.
The home side hardly broke a sweat in their chase of the modest total despite losing both Sibonelo Makhanya and Matthew de Villiers in the seventh over.
In the end, Jordan Hermann ended on 47, with JP King unbeaten on 24 as they needed only 11 overs to reach the target and secure the win.
Friday’s solitary fixture in the YesPlay Pro20 Cup sees Eastern Cape Iinyathi host Hollywoodbets Dolphins at Buffalo Park in KuGompo City.