Tsolekile stakes Test claim at Newlands

Thami Tsolekile lived up to his reputation as an international in the making with a superb innings of 95 as Western Province assumed total control of their Supersport Series clash against Easterns at Newlands on Sunday.

By the end of day three, Easterns had slipped to 36-2 chasing an improbable target of 390 for victory.

Tsolekile made the most of his promotion to number three and, resuming overnight without a run to his name, faced a total of 208 deliveries before being bowled around his legs by left arm spinner Anthony Botha just five runs short of a maiden first class century.

He struck nine fours but worked the ball into gaps at will to accumulate a steady flow of singles.

Andrew Puttick added 39 to his first innings 153 not out while Neil Johnson (50) and Ashwell Prince (40*) took the game beyond Easterns' realistic reach with a run-a-ball stand of 79 for the fifth wicket.

Eastern's skipper Deon Jordaan used seven bowlers in his attempts to break through but the home side never showed a glimpse of indecision on a pitch that has played superbly throughout the match so far.

Worse was to come for Jordaan when he was given out on the stroke of stumps, caught at slip, despite the ball appearing to have bounce of his foot off the bowling of WP vice captain Alan Dawson.

Roger Telemachus made the initial incision into the Easterns batting when opener Ernie Mokoenenyane edged the SA seamer into Tsolekile's gloves in the first over of the final innings.

With both teams guaranteed a place in the 'Super Eight' section of the Supersport Series, a win would count as almost double for either side - who stand in first and second place in Pool B - although Easterns would happily settle for a draw needing a daunting 354 runs on the final day at a rate of nearly four and a half runs per over.