Border cricket team
Cricket team
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Border is the team representing the Border region in domestic first-class cricket in South Africa. The team began playing in March 1898. When Cricket South Africa introduced the franchise system in 2004, Border merged with Eastern Province to form the Warriors, but both teams continued in the second eleven competitions. In 2020, the franchises were dissolved. The Warriors name was adopted by Eastern Province and Border's team was rebranded as the Eastern Cape iiNyathi (isiXhosa for "buffaloes").[2]
| Personnel | |
|---|---|
| Captain | Jason Niemand |
| Coach | Rowan Richards[1] |
| Chief executive | Omphile Ramela |
| Team information | |
| Founded | 1898 |
| Home ground | Buffalo Park, East London |
| Official website | Official website |
Club history
Border have usually been one of the weaker teams in South Africa. From their initial first-class match in 1897-98 until the end of the 2017-18 season they had played 584 matches, resulting in 173 wins, 241 losses, one tie, and 169 draws.[3] Border hold the record for the lowest aggregate score by a first class side in a match. During a Currie Cup match against Natal at Jan Smuts Ground in 1959-60, Border scored only 34 runs in the match - 16 in the first innings and 18 in the second innings.[4][5]
In November 2017, Marco Marais scored 300 not out from 191 deliveries, batting for Border against Eastern Province in the 2017–18 Sunfoil 3-Day Cup.[6] This was the fastest triple century in first-class cricket, the ninth triple century in first-class cricket in South Africa and the first in the country since 2010.[7]
In March 2021, Border were dismissed for just sixteen runs in their second innings in the 2020–21 CSA 3-Day Provincial Cup, equalling the lowest team total in first-class cricket in South Africa.[8]
Current squad
Squad for 2026/27 Season.[9] Players in bold have played international cricket.
| Name | Nationality | Birth date | Batting style | Bowling style | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batters | |||||
| Jerome Bossr |  South Africa |
22 September 1998 | Left-handed | Left-arm seam | |
| Christiaan du Toit | South Africa |
15 September 2003 | Right-handed | Right-arm wrist spin | |
| Jason Niemand | South Africa |
30 November 1998 | Right-arm orthodox spin | ||
| Riley Miller | South Africa |
High-performance Contract | |||
| Wicket-keepers | |||||
| Mncedisi Malika | South Africa |
12 June 1997 | Left-handed | ||
| Nathan Roux | South Africa |
9 April 1998 | Right-handed | ||
| All-Rounders | |||||
| Hardus Coetzer | South Africa |
15 September 2002 | Right-handed | Right-arm seam | |
| Michael Copeland | South Africa |
4 October 2002 | Right-arm orthodox spin | ||
| Alindile Mhletywa | South Africa |
2 July 1996 | Right-arm seam | High-performance Contract | |
| Thando Ntini | South Africa |
7 July 2000 | Left-handed | ||
| Lihle Sizani | South Africa |
24 May 2002 | Right-handed | Right-arm orthodox spin | |
| Bowlers | |||||
| Matthew Fourie | South Africa |
16 October 2002 | Right-handed | Right-arm seam | High-performance Contract |
| Sithembile Langa | South Africa |
9 October 1995 | |||
| Kgaudise Molefe | South Africa |
31 March 2004 | High-performance Contract | ||
| Thozama Totana | South Africa |
2 September 2002 | Left-arm orthodox spin | ||
Venues
Venues have included:
- Victoria Ground, King William's Town (occasional venue November 1903 – March 1958)
- Jan Smuts Ground, East London (main home ground March 1907 – January 1988)
- Victoria Recreation Ground, Queenstown (alternative venue March 1907 – November 1962)
- Cambridge Recreation Ground, East London (short-term venue December 1947 – January 1948)
- Buffalo Park, East London (main home ground October 1988 – present)