Strydom dashes KwaZulu-Natal's hopes

With a little help from a rampant Vasbert Drakes and a stubborn Ian Mitchell, Border captain Pieter Strydom all but ended KwaZulu-Natal's hopes of victory in their Supersport Series encounter on Sunday and at the same time, the home side's aspirations of reaching the Super Eight stage of the competition.

After Border had been reduced to 128 for five early on Sunday morning, Strydom stepped up to make 80 off just 127 balls, including 11 fours. He featured in a sixth-wicket stand of 111 with Mitchell (31) and ultimately saw to it that Border compiled a first innings total of 321 and a lead of 68. Goolam Bodi, brought on to bowl his left-arm wrist-spin late in the innings, wrapped up the tail with four for 34.

Then Strydom took two wickets late in the day with his slow left-armers, following up an early three-wicket burst by champion Barbadian fast bowler Drakes, to have the Dolphins staggering on 117 for five at the close, a lead of just 49.

Appropriately, considering Strydom's contribution, opposite number Dale Benkenstein again proved the mainstay of his team's innings, finishing unbeaten on 56 to follow up his 86 in the home side's first innings total of 253 for seven declared.

Along with the vastly experienced Errol Stewart, his partner at the close, who is on seven, Benkenstein will have to hold it together for his side on the last day if defeat is to be avoided, let alone a victory contemplated.

Strydom finished with two for 22 off 11 overs and Drakes with three for 20 off his 10.