KZN middle order halts WP final surge

Western Province were again unable to follow-up their early inroads into the KwaZulu-Natal second innings, and by close of play on the third day the visitors had extended their lead to 365 with three wickets still in hand and no declaration in sight.

Overnight batsmen HD Ackerman and Claude Henderson kept their partnership going for 45 minutes against the second new ball before Henderson's defence was penetrated by McLean. Roger Telemachus soon followed, and Charl Willoughby's presence at the crease eventually persuaded Ackerman to play some of his rarely seen aggressive shots, hitting three fours and a five in an entertaining last wicket partnership. They finished the innings with 3.50 batting bonus points, ensuring that they must win this match to qualify for the Final in April.

Trailing by 99 runs, the home team fought back gamely. Telemachus had Doug Watson lbw and Willoughby dismissed Ahmed Amla to a slip catch for the second time in the match, but WP were struck a cruel blow when Willoughby was injured shortly before lunch. His dislocated shoulder ended his participation in this match. Henderson, opening the bowling after lunch, dismissed Jonty Rhodes with a ball which kept low, and also had Dale Benkenstein caught behind, at which stage KZN were in trouble on 41 for four. Hashim Amla and Jon Kent restored the balance with a partnership of 55 before Amla was dismissed by part timer Jonathan Trott, the second dubious lbw decision of the innings.

Kent and Lance Klusener continued to turn the screws with a partnership of 81 for the 6th wicket. Kent played some elegant strokes, while Klusener, true to reputation, treated Henderson with the utmost respect but belted all of his 6 fours and 3 sixes off the seamers from the Wynberg end. Both departed in quick succession, at which point WP had some hope of fighting back, with KZN 289 ahead with just three wickets in hand.

That was the last success for the home team. Duncan Brown dug his heels in, playing a gritty innings interrupted only when he pulled a Henderson long hop over the mid wicket boundary. Goolam Bodi played with his normal aggression, punishing all the bowlers as he included ten boundaries in his unbeaten 50. The umpires allowed WP just one over with the second new ball before offering the batsmen the light with seven overs still to be bowled, but already 26 minutes into overtime. Henderson was the best of the bowlers, bowling 32 overs unchanged from the Kelvin Grove end.