Boland against the Warriors © Gallo Images

Goldrush Boland players registered three centuries and 10 wickets as they defeated Dafabet Warriors by an innings and 11 runs in their 4-day CSA series match at Boland Park on Sunday.

Aviwe Mgijima, Grant Roelofsen and Pieter Malan scored brilliant centuries as the hosts posted a massive total of 500 runs in the first innings, after opting to bat first. Malan and Roelofsen put Boland in a strong position with an outstanding opening partnership of 191 runs.

Roelofsen, who recorded his ninth first-class century, faced 171 deliveries for his 115. Malan, on the other hand, faced 257 balls for his 106. This was his 40th first-class ton. Third centurion Mgijima faced 172 deliveries to score his fifth first-class century. He scored the most runs of the trio, finishing his innings with 122 off 214 balls. With a commanding lead in the first innings, Boland needed a clinical effort from his bowlers to put the Warriors under pressure. And Shaun von Berg did not disappoint.

The 38-year-old led the destruction of the Warriors’ batting line-up by recording his career-best bowling figures in the first innings. Von Berg took eight wickets for 54 runs in 21.4 overs, surpassing his previous record of 7/66. This is also the legspinner’s 28th five-wicket haul.

Von Berg continued his fine performance in the Warriors’ second innings, where he took two more wickets for 84 runs in five overs. He finished the match with 10 wickets for 138 runs. The tally leaves Von Berg at 497, three wickets shy of the 500 dismissal mark. He is also now the leading wicket-taker at Boland Park with 66 first-class wickets. With these numbers, Von Berg was the best bowler in the match.

Von Berg’s performance in the Warriors’ second innings paved the way for Aya Gqamane to sweep the tail and record her ninth first-class four-wicket haul. The pacer finished with four wickets for 48 runs in 13.5 overs. The wickets of Von Berg and Gqamane came as part of an afternoon surge that saw the home side overturn a promising Warriors batting performance.

Jordan Hermann and Matthew de Villiers came together late on day three and began to build a potentially life-saving partnership. The two shared a 170-run third-wicket partnership that reduced the likelihood of a Boland victory with every second they remained in the middle. Hermann scored a remarkable 152 and De Villiers added 87

Hermann and De Villiers were the key wickets. Shaun von Berg and Glenton Stuurman pushed them aside between the 97th and 100th. Von Berg gave the hosts a chance by replacing Hermann, and Stuurman opened the door to the lower order with the dismissal of De Villiers 3.3 overs later. One of the Warriors’ biggest problems in the match was their propensity to lose wickets in clumps.

With the pair’s departure, things took a turn for the worse for the Warriors. They lost six more wickets for 29 runs in 16 overs. In total, the Warriors lost eight wickets for 36 runs in 21.2 overs.

BOLAND: Grant Roelofsen, Pieter Malan, Gavin Kaplan, Aviwe Mgijima, Clyde Fortuin (capt)(week), Michael Copeland, Shaun von Berg, Keith Dudgeon, Jevano Baron, Ayabulela Gqamane, Glenton Stuurman

WARRIORS: Jordan Hermann, Jean du Plessis, Matthew Breetzke (captain), Matthew de Villiers, Sinethemba Qeshile (week), Senuran Muthusamy, Andile Mogakane, Ethan Frosler, Duanne Olivier, Jason Raubenheimer, Siyabulela Plaatjie.