Bacher fit again, Cullinan opens again (8 October 1998)

8 October 1998

Bacher fit again, Cullinan opens again

By Bob Dubery

South Africa's soon-to-be opening Batsman and a man with his eye on the opening spot in the South African Test batting order opened the batting for Gauteng last night.

The occasion was a friendly one-day match between Gauteng and their neighbours North West, the opening pair were Adam Bacher and Daryll Cullinan.

Cullinan impressed again as an opener, scoring 66 out of Gauteng's score of 237/4. Gauteng skipper Ken Rutherford remarked "Daryll looked great at the top of the order".

Since the announcement from the South African selectors that they would use Cullinan as an opener in the forthcoming Wills Tournament in Bangladesh, Gauteng have used him as an opener in limited over games and he has performed well.

Bacher, feeling his way back into the game after surgery on his shoulder, did not fare so well, scoring just 16. Rutherford got 58 batting at 3, and Zander de Bruyn continued his impressive early season form with 56 not out.

The unfancied North West were equal to the task and won with just 4 balls left to be bowled. They scored 241/6 off a Gauteng attack depleted by the late withdrawls of Wayne Kidwell and Keith Ingram.

Transvaal 237/4 (45 overs)
Cullinan 66, Rutherford 58, de Bruyn 56*, Light 9-1-44-3

North West 241/6 (44.2 overs)
Jacobs 85*, de Vos 37

Source :: Bob Dubery