McKenzie's ton a chip off the old block

Centurion (South Africa) - On a day fairly dripping with irony Neil McKenzie reminded his former Gauteng bosses what they had lost and why Northerns feel they have the best of the deal when he pulled together a well-structured maiden A Section century for his new province yesterday.

If there had been any doubt the 23-year-old McKenzie was a chip off the old block it was laid to rest on the opening day of the SuperSport Series game in Centurion as he carved out a career first-class best 166 not out as Northerns reached 312 for four wickets.

As McKenzie and Gerald Dros added 223 for the fourth wicket in an impressive display of batting which earned Northerns their four batting points Gauteng would do to reflect on their missed opportunities: McKenzie dropped twice and Dros once. Not at all a happy memory for Clive Eksteen to dwell on overnight.

While former test cap David Terbrugge at least did enough to remind the national selectors that he is over his ankle injury worries with an impressive bowling effort which at least put Northerns under early pressure, it was McKenzie, making the most of his luck by being dropped twice on his way to three figures who made the most of what was solid batting display. His father Kevin, should be well remembered for his batting exploits for Transvaal and South Africa in the era dominated by he mean machine and rebel tours, and the way McKenzie the younger batted yesterday it was one of those enticing deja vu scenarios. He also reminded former Gauteng teammate Andrew Hall that bowling short is a risky exercise in leather-hunting.

In a matter of 12 deliveries McKenzie advanced his score by 24 runs with two sixes and three fours: the first six a pull and the second a well-placed hook, moving from 52 to 76 as the Gauteng bowling seemed to lose its stomach for a fight. And then Derek Crookes bowled a questionable line which smacked of the sort of negative tactics Northerns encountered when playing Easterns last week at Willowmoore Park.

What purpose is served remains to be seen and no doubt the Gauteng coaching management of Mark O Donnell and Rodney Ontong has an answer for the strategy which seemed to come from a page in the Ray Jennings book of spin bowling philosophy. If Northerns adopted similar tactics you would hear the opposition howling from the Wanderers dressingroom.

Dros fell in the 90s for the second time in his career but the start to yesterday's innings was jittery as he edged the ball a couple of times and could have departed at any time as he worked out gameplan. Once his timing was worked out he slipped into his normal elegant grove and there were times when his driving on the up was as stylish as any we are going to see this season.

Two sixes and 14 fours are a tribute to his batting talents. For their bowling pains Gauteng earned a single bowling point which will no doubt make them wish they had an extra fast bowler. Terbrugge apart, the rest of the attack wasted their opportunities, as once the morning session had been negotiated it was a question of sensible batting.

Although Terbrugge lured Martin van Jaarsveld into giving away his wicket for 20. Disappointing perhaps, but it was a tribute to the bowler's ability. McKenzie's innings was significant in that it provided the big three-figure score the Northerns coach Peter Kirsten had been looking for. Although dropped by Andre Seymore when he was eight and Daryll Cullinan on 99: costly lapses in fielding with Seymore committing a second blunder when he put down Dros when he was 75.

What should make Eksteen and Hall for that matter, miffed by the fielding blunders was that Northerns were 24 for two at the time. Terbrugge did his bit when he whipped out Quentin Still with the third ball of the day and had Rudolf Steyn caught by wicketkeeper Nic Pothas 12 overs later for 10 with Northerns battling their way to 16. It was during this period when Terbrugge put the batsmen under solid pressure.