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Lara continues form in SA

Thursday, December 4 2003

Brian Lara powered the West Indies to a winning total in their first tour match in South Africa. Against the Nicky Oppenheimer XI, the tourist managed to score 241/4 in their allotted 45 overs. At the top of the order, Shiv Chanderpaul and Daren Ganga scored comfortably, yet slowly, to reach 87 before Chanderpaul was bowled by Mpitsang for 53 (93 balls).

Despite the loss of his opening partner, Ganga continued to bat solidly and reached fifty from 87 balls. With Sarwan, 62 runs were added before Sarwan departed for 23 (40 balls) via the run out route, the score on 149/2 after 35.4 overs. Carlton Baugh Jr. was promoted up the order to get some batting practice in. He soon lost his partner in Ganga however, who was bowled for 70 (103) - 152/3.

Enter to the crease Brian Lara. Only 47 legal deliveries remained in the innings at this point and some acceleration was certainly needed. Lara and Baugh (23) batted themselves in but the latter was trapped in front by Kruger with the score on 201/4 at the end of the 42nd over. Lara had already begun to show his intentions, with 31 runs from the last 3 overs, but it was now that he would truly explode.

Lara and new batsman Banks added 40 runs from 18 balls of which Banks faced only 5 balls, scoring 4 runs. At the close of the innings, Lara stood unbeaten on 53 from only 28 balls faced. His cameo included a trio of sixes and one more than that for four. de Bruyn and Mpitsang each finished with 1/36 from 7 overs.

With a useful total on the board, the West Indian bowlers set about to defend it. Edwards (0/13) and Collymore (0/16) got only 9 overs between them as Lara seemed far more intent to exercise his other bowling options. For the Oppenheimer XI, Hector (48 off 77) and van Wyk (37 off 59) looked to be capitalizing on this as the score moved along to 75/1 from 18 overs. A few overs and some runs later, it had slipped somewhat to 135/4 after 33 overs. de Bruyn played for a brisk 31 (29 balls) but eventually spooned a catch back to Chris Gayle (2/55) - 164/5.

With 41 balls remaining and 65 runs required, the stage was set for a thrilling end and the opportunity stood for a hero to emerge. van Jaarsveld set about to become such a hero, launching four (4) sixes in a quickfire innings of 49 which he remained on unbeaten. His runs came while facing 36 balls. Helping in the effort, Albie Morkel found the boundary on four occasions in compiling his own cameo of 22 not out (21 balls).

Ultimately however, the Nicky Oppenheimer XI fell short by 12 runs when the innings closed on 229/5. Rampaul, Hinds and Banks each took a wicket in addition to Gayle's couple.

West Indies XI 241/4 (45 overs)
(D Ganga 70 [103], BC Lara 53 not out [28], S Chanderpaul 53 [72])
(PV Mpitsang 1/36 [7], Z de Bruyn 1/36 [7], GJP Kruger 1/56 [8])
Nicky Oppenheimer XI 229/5 (45 overs)
(VB van Jaarsveld 49 not out [36], B Hector 48 [77], MN van Wyk 37 [59], Z de Bruyn 31 [29])
(CH Gayle 2/55 [9], WW Hinds 1/31 [9], R Rampaul 1/50 [9], OAC Banks 1/54 [9])
Result: West Indies XI won by 12 runs

Posted by Liam