da aposte e ganhe： Eastern Province Jumbos moved into a position of authority in this Supersport Series Super Eight match on Friday as they took an 82-run lead over Boland with two first innings wickets in hand
Marcus Prior – MWP02-Mar-2001Eastern Province Jumbos moved into a position of authority in this Supersport Series Super Eight match on Friday as they took an 82-run lead over Boland with two first innings wickets in hand.That they got anywhere need such a healthy lead was due in large part to the efforts of off-spinner Shafiek Abrahams, who used his bat on this occasion to strike a career-best undefeated 80 and help the visitors to their total of 318/8 at stumps.Abrahams’ innings was in stark contrast to much of what had gone beforeas he pasted the Boland attack to all parts of the ground in a rare – forthis game at least – display of aggression. He turned an average EasternProvince effort into a decent one on a pitch which will offer him and hisspin partner, Robin Peterson, plenty of help when Boland finally get to batagain.The EP tenacity down the order amounted to a major frustration forBoland, who went into the match lying in second place on the log and verymuch in with a shout of a place in the final.Although Justin Ontong bowled well, picking up three wickets at the top of the card with a clever mix of off and leg-spinners, the remainder of the Boland attack looked jaded – as well they might be in temperatures that once again soared beyond the merely uncomfortable. It is on days like these when the professionals really earn their money, although 26 no-balls might just have had one or two of the guilty players coughing some of it back up in the dressing room afterwards.Abrahams will have a good chance of moving to his maiden first-classhundred on Saturday morning – all the more so because Mornantau Hayward(18), so short of form and confidence with the ball, has played sensibly atthe other end without ever looking in any great trouble.