Boje hits maiden 100 ... in vain!

Match abandoned because of rain

POTCHEFSTROOM -- Left-hander Nicky Boje cracked a rapid century in time to beat unforgiving heavens which washed out the opening one-day contest between South Africa and New Zealand here yesterday.

The no-result means the six-match series becomes a five-game shoot-out, with the next contest scheduled for Benoni tomorrow.

Boje came in as a pinch-hitter after Gary Kirsten had perished, and he blasted his maiden 100 from just 89 balls.

The Free Stater survived one rain break with the South African total on 164 for two wickets and his own tally on 84.

When he returned after a delay of one hour and 15 minutes, he continued hammering the ball around the North West Oval -- hosting Potchefstroom's first-ever one-day international cricket match.

Admittedly, Boje did have some luck on his side with a few knicks -- like when he clipped one past 'keeper Adam Parore to reach his 50 from 44 deliveries.

"It was good fun," he said afterwards.

"I was lucky early on."

Even a smiling Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming was moved to say: "I got frustrated by a couple of knicks, but he played a good innings in between."

Boje was well supported by provincial teammate, opener Boeta Dippenaar, who hit a well-crafted 57 for his second international half-century.

The two put on 129 from 153 balls in one hour and 26 minutes.

When rain bucketed down for the second and final time, the South Africans were 191/2 with Boje on 105, having faced just 93 balls (12x4).

Even with the match being abandoned, Boje was still pleased with his feat.

"Just getting a hundred is great."

Jacques Kallis, batting at four, was on eight not out. -- Sapa

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