KwaZulu-Natal waste early successes

A recovery by the lower order gave Western Province the edge as KwaZulu-Natal let it slip on the first day in the second round of the SuperSport Series

Claude Henderson blasted a career-best 71 from No. 9 © Getty Images Enlarge

Western Province 311 (Henderson 71, Tsolekile 63, Johnson 58, McLean 4-43) v KwaZulu-Natal
Scorecard
At Newlands, Western Province lost the toss and were put in to bat on a green track by their nearest log rivals KwaZulu-Natal. Early movement had the ball beating the bat at regular intervals, and a solid start was squandered as Province slumped to 106 for 5 before Neil Johnson and Thami Tsolekile restored some order to the innings. Johnson, on going past his 50, threw his wicket away with an ugly missed sweep while Tsolekile grew in confidence with an impressive 63. Claude Henderson, coming in at No. 9, scored a career-best 71 as he punished some wayward bowling. Nixon McLean was the most successful Natal bowler, causing much of the early damage and ending with 4 for 43.

Free State 267 (van Wyk 77, van der Wath 68, Roe 5-54) v North West 40 for 2
Scorecard
At the North West Stadium, Free State were put in on a pitch that appeared to be bowler friendly. Morne van Wyk, cracking 13 boundaries and a six in his 77, saved Free State some embarrassment as five wickets fell for 136. A sixth-wicket partnership between Kosie Venter and Johannes van der Wath pushed the total to 198 for 5 when rain caused a 20-minute delay and an early tea. When play resumed, van der Wath's 68 helped Free State to scrape 267. Garth Roe used the conditions well to end with 5 for 54. When light faded early North West had struggled to 40 for 2.

Griqualand West 169 (Langeveldt 5-42, Kreusch 4-52) v Border 241 for 8 (Sugden 87*)
Scorecard
At Buffalo Park in East London 18 wickets fell in a day where only Border's Craig Sugden looked at all settled. Border's decision to insert Griqualand West was justified as they bowled them out for 169 in 30.4 overs shortly after lunch. Only a whirlwind 34 in 13 balls (four boundaries and three sixes) from Deon Kruis saved Griqualand's blushes. Charl Langeveldt ended with 5 for 42 while Justin Kreusch cleaned up the tail with 4 for 52. Border made a nervous start with three top-order batsmen out for single figures. Mark Bruyns and Kreusch got into the thirties but it was Sugden who gave Border a valuable first-innings lead with 87 not out, including 16 fours. When bad light brought an early end, Border were 241 for 8, 72 ahead.