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Rivash Gobind powers Natal to victory

A round-up from the latest SAA Provincial Cup matches

Keith Lane
19-Feb-2006
In Durban, KwaZulu-Natal beat Border by 11 runs thanks to 71 from Rivash Gobind who, almost single-handedly, took Natal to 201. After a solid start, Burton de Wett caused Natal to collapse from 155 for 4 as he took 3 for 19 to clean up the tail. Border made an indifferent start but a 67-run partnership between Kevin Bennett (53) and Laden Gamiet (62*) brought them back into the game but in the end there was just too much to do as they finished on 190 for 5.
In Potchefstroom, North West registered an exciting one-wicket win over Free State, which went down to the last over. Set a target of 288 to win, North West were almost out of the game at 187 for 9 with 10 overs remaining. A last wicket partnership of 102, with 51 coming off the final three overs, allowed them to win with two balls to spare. Diminutive Thando Bula struck four boundaries and three sixes in his career-best 76 not out, while Friedel de Wet smashed seven fours and three sixes in his career-best 56 not out. Bennett Sekonyane (4 for 38) and Quinton Samson (3 for 51) also achieved career-bests, but still ended on the losing side. Having scored 287 for 7, thanks to an innings of 127 from Jonathan Beukes and forties from Riel de Kock and Craig Thyssen, Free State must have been confident of a win.
In Cape Town, Western Province had to work hard to gain a controlled six-wicket win over their unbeaten neighbours Boland. Boland were asked to bat and were soon in trouble at 20 for 3. But 49 from Gerhard Strydom and a career-best 96 not out from Warren Swan put them back on track for a good total. A further 43 from Godfrey Stevens allowed Boland to reach 242 for 8 in their 45 overs. Western Province's innings was never in any real trouble as they controlled the chase with Alistair Gray (70) and John Geoghegan (77), the Supersub, scoring their first limited overs fifties. A further 43 from Bob Homani, another career-best, saw Province pass the target with six wickets and three overs in hand.

Keith Lane works for Cricinfo in South Africa