SOUTHERN CAPE NEWS - In spite of a brilliant unbeaten partnership of 257 runs for the 5th wicket between Obus Pienaar (112*; 243 balls, 1x6, 4x4) and Hanno Kotze (153*, 9x6, 8x4) the men from the Southern Cape failed to deliver the final knock-out blow as the Sunfoil Cup three day match against Border ended in a draw last weekend.
SWD, who won the toss, declared their first innings at 370/4 in the 109th over. Pienaar and Kotzé got together at 113/4 and achieved the biggest partnership in SWD's first class history, also breaking the previous SWD 5th record partnership that was held by Glen Addicot and Waldo Lategan (144 vs EP in Oudtshoorn - 2012/13 season).
It was Pienaar's third century for the season and Kotzé spectacularly overcame his failure to convert half-centuries into centuries with a career-best maiden first-class century.
In reply, Border were dismissed for 158 in their first innings. Debutant Herchell America (3/42 in 12 overs), Obus Pienaar (3/18 in 10,1 overs) and Bradley de Villiers (2/37 in 15 overs) were SWD's bowling heroes.
With a deficit of 212, SWD enforced the follow-on and after 113 overs in the field and a gutsy batting performance by the visitors, led by Marco Marais (100), Jerry Nqolo (53) and Jason Niemand (54*), SWD failed to wrap up the match. With their total in the follow-on innings at 303/7 - and a lead of 91 runs - the captains shook hands as the match ended in a draw.
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