The first serious match of the season was a Standard Bank League match played at St Georges Park against neighbours, Border.

The Jumbos were victors by 23 runs in a game dominated by the bat.

Having won the toss, Dave Callaghan, the Jumbos skipper, opted to bat with the intention of getting a big score quickly. Things started off in Border's favour when Carl Bradfield was out early for a score of 1 and Eldine Baptiste who came in at first wicket down, nicked a delivery off fellow West Indian, Vasbert Drakes, to give Mark Boucher his only catch of the match for a score of 8. Dave Callaghan joined Louis Koen and the pair proceeded to put on 94 runs for the third wicket before "Callas" was run out eight short of 50. This partnership included a four over spell by Piet Botha and Makhaya Ntini of 42 runs. The EP middle order came and went but Lois Koen took the Border bowling on and scored a Standard Bank career best of 124 not out from 131 balls (including 13 fours and six) when the rain came down and put paid to the Jumbos' innings. The score was on 216/7 after 42.2 overs.

When play was able to resume Border were set a revised target (according to the Duckworth/Lewis system) of 227 in 41 overs.In similar fashion to the EP innings Border also lost early wickets before Craig Sugden and Border captain, Pieter Strydom played Border back into the game with a fourth wicket partnership of 85 in only 18 overs.

Slowly the game turned in the Jumbos' favour despite Strydom always posing a threat. The home side had brief flutter of the heart when 15 was scored by Piet Botha off Eldine Baptiste in the 37th over. Eventually the required run rate proved to be too much and Border were all out for 203. Meyrick Pringle and with 3 wickets for 44 runs.

Man of the Match award was presented to Louis (The King) Koen and if he continues in present form will earn many more.

GO TO IT JUMBOS