News

Dawson and Willoughby take Province to the title

Western Province made up for last season's disappointment by winning the 2003-04 SuperSport Series final by 108 runs at Newlands

Wisden Cricinfo staff
05-Apr-2004
Western Province 217 and 315 beat KwaZulu-Natal 187 and 237 (Khan 62, H Amla 72, Dawson 4-51, Willoughby 4-71) by 108 runs
Scorecard


Lance Klusener: 12 wickets and a Man of the Match award - but no victory © Getty Images
Western Province made up for last season's disappointment by winning the 2003-04 SuperSport Series final by 108 runs at their home ground Newlands. Their 18th domestic title was wrapped-up when Charl Willoughby had Andrew Tweedie caught in the slips shortly before 3pm with 37 overs to spare.
KwaZulu-Natal began the day with a realistic chance of victory on 127 for 1, still needing another 219 runs. Play started 50 minutes late, and although they lost Imran Khan to Willoughby without adding to his overnight 62, they reached lunch on a solid 167 for 2.
But the taking of the new ball straight after the break was decisive. Willoughby immediately removed Hashim Amla for 72, and then Ahmed Amala fell to Alan Dawson for 20 as KwaZulu-Natal slumped to 169 for 4.
Dale Benkenstein (9) and Jon Kent (32) stopped the rot, adding 29 before Benkenstein was controversially given out leg-before sweeping well down the pitch. That dismissal triggered another, more substantial, collapse as five wickets went down for 12 in nine overs. Robbie MacQueen and Tweedie then frustrated Western Province with a tenth-wicket stand of 27 before Willoughby returned.
The only consolation for KwaZulu-Natal came when Lance Klusener was named Man of the Match for his 12 for 160.