da jogodeouro： If Border claim a place in the final of the Supersport Series, then Friday in Bloemfontein might just be the day they gave themselves the chance
da pinnacle： Marcus Prior – MWP02-Mar-2001If Border claim a place in the final of the Supersport Series, then Friday in Bloemfontein might just be the day they gave themselves the chance.By stumps they had moved into a sizeable 162-run lead with eight secondinnings wickets in hand, after bowling their opponents Free State out forjust 225.The Free State total was dominated by the efforts of Andrew Gait, theopener’s 112 his highest score in first-class cricket and just his secondhundred. It could have ended so much earlier though, as the young batsmanappeared to be the recipient of a healthy dose of good fortune when on just24.It was then that he aimed a pull shot at Tyron Henderson and he – andjust about everyone else – turned to see the ball climbing high into thesky. It was only when the ball landed safely that ‘keeper Ian Mitchellindicated that the wicket had been broken. Surely Gait had to go, hitwicket?But doubt there was, and instead of Gait lengthening his stride back tothe pavilion, he took up guard once more with the blessing of the umpires.Quite what Border made of it all was less clear. Certainly in the days oftelevision replays, Gait might not have been so lucky.What would have improved the Border spirits was the clatter of FreeState wickets, eight of them for just 13 runs, as the home side stumbledfrom 109-2 to 122-6 shortly after lunch. Despite the efforts of Gait andRashied Lewis, 225 still represented a serious deficit.That much was rammed home by some fine batting from Craig Sugden as hehelped the Bears into what should be an impregnable position by the close.
