KwaZulu-Natal fight back

Compared to their performances yesterday, 'chalk and cheese' is the best way to describe both sides today. Yesterday the Western Warriors were focused and difficult to stop whereas today they produced an insipid performance. Yesterday KwaZulu Natal had a poor match and yet today they turned it all around to defeat the Warriors in just over 25 overs and by 8 wickets.

The overs were reduced to 40 each when soft conditions kept the covers on for an hour and play eventually started at 11:00. The toss was won again by Western Australia who were captained this time by Brendon Julian. The side was vastly different to that of yesterday with a number of players rotated out of the side to give everyone in the squad a chance to bat or bowl.

For KwaZulu Natal, Eldine Baptiste missed out today with some sort of knee injury. Errol Stewart was captain for the day and Brown took over the job of wicket keeper.

BJ put the Warriors in first and sent Zimbabwean Test star Murray Goodwin in to open with Michael Dighton. Dighton presented an LBW chance on his second ball and was then bowled next ball without scoring - this makes it a pair for Dighton who has been wintering with Excelcior in the Dutch League. Dightons opening partner Murray Goodwin and Damian Martyn added 10 to the score then Martyn became Veenstra's 2nd victim bowled for 3 - WA XI now 11 for 2.

Goodwin and Hogg shared in a comfortable 26 run partnership then Goodwin hit a shortish ball from Kent direct to Pietersen at mid off and was caught out 15 whereupon drinks were taken and so at the end of 14 overs WA XI were 37/3. Two wickets fell on the way to the 20th over when WA XI were 42 for 5 - BJ made a duck and David Hussey a single run.

Brad Hogg (now on 5) was joined at the crease by Michael Hussey. This partnership became the only significant pairing adding 47 runs then Michael Hussey departed in the 33rd over spooning and easy catch to Errol Stewart in cover with the score much healthier on 89 for 6. Hogg faced two balls before a taking a suicidal run and being run out for 20 by Stewart running to the strikers end.

The final partnership of 22 was between WA keeper Mark Walsh and Matt Nicholson and so when the 40 over limit was reached WA XI had put 112 runs on the board with the loss of 6 wickets.

By far and away the best of the KwaZulu Natal, bowling was Jon Kent - who continued on with yesterdays form and produced 4 wickets for his team. Most economical was Shaun Adam conceding just 8 runs. Veenstra's two early wickets put WA XI on the back foot. With intermittant soft rain falling it was apparant that the wicket was slippery with the bowlers calling for sawdust. The outfield too was damp but this did not seem to effect the ball much.

Duncan Brown and Ashraf Mall beat the opening bowlers into submission making a bright 79 run start with chances when in the 17th over Mall holed out to the bowling of Brad Hogg being caught out by Michael Hussey after compiling 25 runs.

Two overs after the dismissal of Mall and having made 54, Brown found himself standing at the strikers end with the the new batsman Ahmed Amla who had refused a single and looking over his shoulder found that Hogg was standing over the stumps with the ball in hand and so Brown just walked. Hogg in fact did not remove the bails.

Now on 87 and with more than 20 overs to play, KwaZulu Natal were clearly not going to lose. Amla who had been a bit of a villain in the Brown dismissal started to strike the ball well, arriving at 24 runs to remain unbeaten when he struck the winning run. His partner Hudson, seemingly happy to relinquish the strike made just 5 and KwaZulu Natal ran out convincing winners by 8 wickets in this match.

With a small total to defend Brendon Julian erred on the side of defensive caution. He lacked faith in his bowling and paid the penalty. He did not bring himself on to bowl preferring to use Hussey and Hogg to crimp the burgeoning run total. Hogg started poorly but bowled well once warm and was the only wicket taker. Cary bowled a very good 1st over but could not contain the batting and faded. Matt Nicholson again put in a good performance despite the conditions. Karppinen tried different ends but was struggling to stem the tide.

A marked improvement by the KwaZulu Natal side and a form reversal of significance by the WA XI. Testimony perhaps to the change in captains. Let us not forget that these matches are pre season friendlies and so a bit of experimentation is expected. The Wanneroo faithful were again supporting the local side and a few onlookers from South Africa supported their side too. This weekend will see the Warriors and KwaZulu Natal meeting at the Lilac Hill ground in the foot hills east of Perth for two more limited overs matches.