S Pothas ton revives Gauteng hopes

Centurion - Nic Pothas who has on occasions rescued Gauteng from worse embarrassing moments than those he had to face here, no doubt felt some comfort in the knowledge that two national selectors watched him score a seventh first-class century.

As Clive Rice and Morris Garda sat in the Gauteng enclosure talking to director of coaching Rodney Ontong, Pothas stapled together a lower order to help Gauteng, labouring at 157 for six to reach an eventual 337 in their SuperSport Series game in Centurion.

It gave Northerns, who led the bonus points race 7-4, a first innings lead of 59. This had been stretched to 172 as Northerns reached 113 without loss when bad light stopped play in their second innings on the third day of the game.

For Rudolf Steyn the pitch conditions, although not ideal for batting, it was an opportunity to score a 21st first-class half-century. With Quentin Still playing an anchor role, Steyn batted with a touch of left-handed panache, collecting 10 fours as he reached the 50 off 92 balls, with several lap shots which caused some excitement in the Gauteng fielding ranks. Back to Pothas though. As the national selectors convene in seven days time to announce their side for the first Test of the season, against Zimbabwe in Bloemfontein later in the week, Pothas nudged, drove and cut his way into the season's already burgeoning list of century-makers.

Three partnership which yielded 180 runs as he scored an undefeated 109 at least gave the Messrs Rice and Garda a lengthy view his stubbornness as well as his talent for survival during an occupation of the crease which lasted a shade longer than five hours.

As valuable as it was in its content, the three-figure mark was worked through partnerships for the seventh, eighth and ninth wickets. While Andrew Hall has a lower-order batting history which includes several half centuries and embellished with a three-figure total, Clive Eksteen and David Terbrugge are not noted for their rearguard efforts.

There was a thought that when Hall departed after a tenacious partnership of 87 which did much to wipe out the follow on deficit, he may run out of partners to reach the 100.

At least Eksteen can lay claim to having rescued South Africa from possible defeat in a Test against Sri Lanka in Moratuwa six years ago. Which is perhaps a little beyond Terbrugge's capabilities at this stage of his career; as yet his kit bag's batting manual is to receive a stamp of "excellence" from either Gauteng coach, Rodney Ontong or Mark O'Donnell, to show to Pothas that he can stick around if need be.

Like Eksteen, however, Terbrugge showed surprising resilience. When the Gauteng captain departed for 14 at 303, Pothas was undefeated on 92. There were a couple of narrow escapes and one run out effort almost left him stranded mid-pitch off the bowling of Northerns captain Mark Davis. Between them Pothas and Terbrugge added a frustrating for 34 runs during which he allowed himself an expansive cover drive off the bowling of Greg Smith to bring up his century off the 199th ball of his innings.

Northerns were seriously hamstrung, however, as without Steve Elworthy, they were always a front line bowler short. Davis did what he could, bowling the bulk of the overs from the Hennops River end while concentrating with Smith and David Townsend at the West Avenue end. He brought on Still to do a brief patch up job with the left-arm spinner delivering six overs.

Smith bowled a far better line and put the ball in the right place yesterday, going for 36 in his 15 overs, which include a spell with the new ball, which he shared with Townsend. The red-haired Northerns swing bowler collected four for 102 on a pitch as flat as any concrete highway.

Yet as valuable as was Pothas' century Gauteng's recovery should be judged against the background of Northerns being unable to exert any pressure because of Elworthy's absence during their first innings. A fit Elworthy charging in would have made a difference to Gauteng's response. Chances are they might not have avoided the follow on, but it is doubtful whether Northerns would have enforced the follow on.