'The Iceman' holds his nerve as Boland seal CSA T20 home final with win over Warriors

Boland beat the Warriors by five runs in Paarl on Tuesday, winning what was a thriller in Qualifier One and booking a home final in the Cricket South Africa T20 Challenge.

There is a reason Ferisco Adams (1/39) is called “The Iceman”. The all-rounder earned this title during the Mzansi Super League with some clinical bowling at the death.

On Tuesday, the 36-year-old reminded the whole country why he earned the nickname, as he defended 17 runs in the final over of Qualifier One at Boland Park. The right-arm seamer was smashed for four off the first ball by Warriors lower-order batter CJ King (10), and he went on to account for King three balls later, leaving the Warriors needing 10 more runs to win the encounter.

Adams conceded only 12 in the final over, helping the hosts secure a five-run victory and book a home final.

Warriors skipper Matthew de Villiers was the standout batter as he carried the visitors on his shoulders, scoring an unbeaten 96 off 64 deliveries — a knock that included eight fours and three sixes. Sinethemba Qeshile (30) was also key as the Warriors chased what was a competitive total, given the slow nature of the wicket at Boland Park.

Boland spinner Imran Manack (3/25), and seamers Glenton Stuurman (1/29) and Ayabulela Gqamane (1/31), played key roles in securing the final for a side that has been very impressive over the last two seasons in Division One cricket.

Earlier, Boland put an excellent score on the board on a wicket that rarely yields big totals. Right-handed batter Gavin Kaplan led from the front, anchoring the innings while wickets fell around him. The 28-year-old compiled a 46-ball 53, a knock that featured two fours and a six, as he absorbed pressure up front and in the middle overs and allowed the middle order to accelerate.

Middle-order batter Jhedli van Briesies played an excellent hand in his 75-run stand with Kaplan, assuming the aggressor role. Van Briesies finished unbeaten on 44 off 26 deliveries, striking four fours and a six. His knock propelled the hosts to 176/3.

Opening batters Clyde Fortuin (21) and Grant Roelofsen (28) laid a solid foundation as they scored at just over 10 runs an over and struck seven fours and a six between them.

Warriors bowlers Aphiwe Mnyanda (1/25), the left-arm quick, and left-arm wrist-spinner Thomas Kaber (1/28) led the visiting attack superbly.

Full Scorecard

Boland: 176/3 (Gavin Kaplan 53 not out, Jhedli van Briesies 44 not out; Aphiwe Mnyanda 1/25, Thomas Kaber 1/28) 

Warriors: 171/6 (Matthew de Villiers 96  not out, Sinethemba Qeshile 30; Imran Manack 3/25, Glenton Stuurman 1/29)

Result: Boland won by five runs