Beukes and van Wyk star in WPB triumph

Western Province Boland beat the Eagles by 113 runs at Goodyear Park in Bloemfontein to jump right back into contention for the SuperSport Series.

Starting on Sunday at 89 for 3 the Eagles needed a further 303 runs to win. Jonathan Beukes and Morne van Wyk got them off to the perfect start, putting on 126 for the fourth wicket before van Wyk was caught behind off Conde Lange for 64. Eight overs later Beukes also edged de Lange to Andrew Puttick for a well-made 89. Loots Bosman tried to keep the target in sight with a quick 32, but the fall of three quick wickets left the Eagles in dire straits. At 244 for 8 it looked all over but Cliff Deacon and Roger Telemachus put their heads down, and took the score on to 277. But Telemachus was soon bowled by Charl Willoughby for 13, just one run short of scoring his 1000th first-class run. The end came when Victor Mpitsang was run out without scoring, leaving Deacon stranded on 33 and the Eagles all out for 278.

The Dolphins and the Titans played out to a tame draw at Kingsmead thanks to time being lost each day due to bad light and a magnificent match-saving innings of 149 for the Titans by Zander de Bruyn.

de Bruyn's innings lasted exactly seven hours and ensured that the Titans could not lose the game. When the declaration came at 325 the lead was 244 with the Dolphins in no position to chase. At 8 for no loss the light was offered and accepted, and the match was drawn.

The Warriors nearly made a mess of chasing the 236 set by the Lions at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth but eventually claimed their first win of the season by a two-wicket margin. The chase did not start off too well as the Warriors lost five wickets for 55 before Robin Peterson and Abongile Sodumo got the innings back on track as they put on 107 for the sixth wicket before Peterson was bowled by Derek Crookes for 65.

Sodumo followed on 214, having scored a valuable 55, as he played the anchor for a swinging Tyron Henderson. In trying to go for glory Henderson put his team at danger as he flashed and edged to the keeper after smashing 51 off 29 balls, leaving the Warriors at 227 for 8. In the end it was left to Monde Zondeki to take the Warriors to their first win of the season.