Weather wins at Northampton

The South African tourists continued their preparation for the NatWest Series and the forthcoming test matches against England with an unconvincing washout at Northampton today.

After winning the toss and electing to take first knock, the tourists lost Herschelle Gibbs and Jaques Kallis for just 34 on the board. Skipper Graeme Smith was next to depart for a painstaking 24, but a sparkling century partnership between Mark Boucher and Shaun Pollock who both made crisp half-centuries helped the tourists to close on 229-6.

For the home side, the wickets were shared out between Mike Cawdron, Damien White and Graeme Swann who picked up a brace apiece. The rain, as forecast, arrived during the interval but mercifully it abated, albeit only temporarily.

With the rain clouds looming large and dark around the County Ground, there was time for Northants to make a steady if unspectacular start to their victory chase, despite losing Philip Jaques for a duck in the second over.

Not even messrs Duckworth and Lewis could save the game as a contest, though. With the total on 45-1 from 15 overs, the heavens opened and sent everyone scurrying for cover. That, unfortunately, was that.

South Africa 229-6 (Boucher 69, Pollock 53, Cawdron 2-36),
Northants 45-1 off 15 overs (Hussey 27*)

Match abandoned as a draw


Posted by Eddie