Boland’s Kyle Simmonds pocketed a career-best 7-87 against Eastern Province in Port Elizabeth and earns Thursday’s Turbo Bowler award, writes ANITHA MADIKIZELA.
The left-arm spinner ripped through the Eastern Province batsmen with his seven wickets on day one to help Boland restrict the home team to 254 in the first innings of their CSA 3-Day Provincial Cup encounter in Port Elizabeth.
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Simmonds’ offensive began with the dismissal of Joshua van Heerden on 47 (75 balls, 9×4, 1×6) in the fourth over of his spell to break the destructive 117-run opening partnership that also featured Eddie Moore (66 off 83 balls, 9×4, 1×6).
He then went on to pocket Clyde Fortuin (9), Lesiba Ngoepe (4) and Jade de Klerk (3) in next to no time with none of the top- and middle-order batsmen making it into double figures.
His rampage continued with the wicket of EP’s captain Solomzi Nqweni for just 11 runs (36 balls, 1×4) as the wily finger spinner completed his fourth five-wicket innings haul in first-class cricket.
Simmonds hadn’t had enough though, as he returned to castle Glenton Stuurman (20 off 22 balls, 4×4) just as he was about to tee off, before promptly getting rid of Siviwe Gidana for just two runs with a composed caught-and-bowled dismissal.
His efforts led to EP bowled out for 254 as Simmonds walked away with 7-87 (econ 3.16) from his 27.3 overs.
Unfortunately, Boland couldn’t capitalise on his heroics with the ball as their own poor start with the bat saw them reduced to 110-6, with Simmonds (25 not out) surviving alongside Sinalo Gobeni (23 not out) until the end of play on day one.
They will resume on Friday in the hope of building on their unbeaten 36-run partnership to take Boland within reach of EP’s first innings total.
Footage: PitchVision captured on PV match
Photo: Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images
