Border head coach Francois Plaatjies is relatively confident that batsman Marco Marais has the ability to play at the highest level.

Marais struck a record-breaking triple-century against Eastern Province in the Sunfoil 3-Day Cup late last year, and has been a key figure in Border’s ongoing Africa T20 Cup campaign.

Last week, the hard-hitting right-hander managed consecutive centuries against Namibia and Mpumalanga.

‘I really think he can go all the way in the T20 format. He just needs opportunities. He is strong farm boy that hits the ball a far way with his long levers,’ said Plaatjies.

‘It is simply not slogging either – there is a process which he follows. He looks to hit straight most of the time, and because he strikes it so cleanly, even his mis-hits go for six.

‘He hit one ball all the way out of Buffalo Park. He has the temperament, too. He can go far.’

Gauteng will face North West in the first 2018 Africa T20 Cup semi-final and Border will host Easterns in the second. Both matches will be played at Buffalo Park in East London on Sunday, 23 September. The final will be played 24 hours later, at the same venue.

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