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WP take out SuperSport Series

Monday, April 5 2004

Western Province have taken out the 2003/04 SuperSport Series - South Africa's first class competition. Western Province beat KwaZulu-Natal by 108 runs at Newlands, Cape Town. It was their 18th domestic title.

Day 1

WP won the toss on day 1 and batted first and were looking to get a good first innings total on the board. But it never materialised as Lance Klusenser cut through the WP middle order like a knife cutting butter as he took 7-70 - this season's best figures - as WP were bowled out for 217.

Andrew Puttick top scored for WP with 70, and if it weren't for Adam Dawson (56) batting at nine, plus contributions from left arm Claude Henderson (21) batting at 8 and 23 from Quinton Friend, WP's total could have been dismissed for less then 150.

Doug Watson made 18 before left arm pace man Charl Willoughby got him out LBW. KwaZulu-Natal finished at 33-1 at stumps on day 1 when play was abandoned with 8.2 overs due to bad light.

Day 2

Resuming at 33-1 KwaZulu-Natal weren't able to build on their impressive day 1 and look to build a big lead on a good wicket. Instead Henderson spun WP back into the game with a Serb 3-27 off 25 overs as KwaZulu-Natal were bowled out for 187 - lead of 30 runs. Hashim Alma making an unbeaten 79 for his province.

WP in reply at stumps on day 2 was at 62-1 - a lead of 92 runs. Puttick made his way to 28 before being out LBW b Andrew Tweedie. As with day 1, 7 overs was lost to bad light.

Day 3

The very talented JP Duminy was the star on day 3 making an unbeaten 89 as the match finished in evenly poised as WP finished at stumps at 260-6 - a lead of 292 with two days remaining. Henderson backed up with his 1st innings 21 with a solid 53 and wicket keeper Thami Tsolekile making 36.

Nixon McLean took 2 wickets on day 3, but the wickets were evenly spread around. 10.2 overs was lost to bad light on day 3.

Day 4

Duminy didn't last long, going early caught behind by Duncan Brown off the bowling of McLean without adding to his first innings score of 89. Klusener quickly wrapped up the WP innings despite a resolute and defiant 38* by Friend as WP were bowled out for 315 - a lead of 346. Klusener took 5-90, giving him 12-160 for the match.

KwaZulu-Natal got off to a good start making their way to 127-1 with Watson being the only man to fall - out in identical fashion to in the first innings off the bowling of Willoughby, this time for 18.

Imraan Khan (62*) and Alma (53*) put their team into a good position until bad light stopped play with 22.4 overs remaining chasing 346 to win. At stumps the match was evenly poised.

Day 5

No such fairytale for KwaZulu-Natal. Khan fell early and their middle order did just not work for the second time in this match with Willoughby (4-71) and Dawson (4-51) the chief wicket takers as kwaZulu Natal were bowled out for 237 giving Western Province a 108 run victory.

Jon Kent chipped in with 32, but it wasn't enough. WP took out their 18th domestic title. Klusener was named man of the match.

Score summery:

Western Province 217 (Puttick 70, Dawson 56, Friend 23; Klusener 7-70)
KwaZulu-Natal 187 (Amla 79*, Khan 35, Watson 18; Henderson 3-25, Philander 2-18, Friend 2-30)
Western Province 315 (Dunimy 89, Henderson 53, Friend 38*; Klusener 5-90, Tweedie 2-39)
KwaZulu-Natal 237 (Amla 72, Khan 62, Kent 32; Dawson 4-51, Willoughby 4-71)

Result: Western Province win the 2003/04 SuperSport Series by 108 runs.

Man of the match: Lance Klusener

Posted by Craig