Henderson stars in Western Province win

Western Province 155 for 5 (Smith 40, Kallis 64, Ntini 3-24) beat Rest of South Africa (Klusener 40*, Henderson 3-27) by 16 runs (D/L Method)
Scorecard

Western Province continued to dominate the South African domestic season. They beat Rest of South Africa XI by sixteen runs in the rain-affected Standard Bank Charity Shield match played at Newlands.

Batting first Western Province scored 155 for 5 in an innings shortened to 30 overs by intermittent rain. Graeme Smith (40) batted fluently, stroking some glorious straight drives, before he charged the bowling of Andrew Hall and holed out to deep mid-off.

Jacques Kallis played a little gem of an innings, with only one false shot, an edge through the vacant slip area. His 64 was full of grace and elegance with some of the best cover drives seen at Newlands for quite some time.

The bowling depth of South African cricket is a worry for the national selectors. On evidence of this match, save Makhaya Ntini and Hall, there was little else to suggest that there is an heir apparent to the South African bowling throne. Monde Zondeki bowled at pace, Andre Nel tried to show some aggressiona and Lance Klusener showed signs of form while Robin Peterson did not set Newlands alight. A lack of discipline, line and length, was the common thread.

Further rain reduced the match to 24 overs leaving the Rest a target of 148. Jacques Rudolph and Boeta Dippenaar failed, and apart from a short flurry from Hall and Mark Boucher it was once again left to Klusener to supply the goods. Coming to the crease at 70 for 5 in the 16th over he did not disappoint. Like the Klusener of old, he smashed three fours and three towering sixes, reaching 40 in 25 balls, to get his team to within 16 runs of the target.

Claude Henderson, awarded Man of the Match, took 3 for 27 and once again comes into reckoning for future national honours.

The highlight of the evening must undoubtedly be the catch of the season and what might have been the turning point in the game. With two overs to go, and 26 runs needed Robin Peterson launched Smith to the deep mid wicket fence. Neil Johnson standing centimetres inside the rope stuck out an outstretched hand and snatched the ball, now over the rope, out of the air.