Warriors make light work of KwaZulu-Natal

The Western Warriors made light work of KwaZulu Natal in the opening match of the preseason tour with a 79 run win. This limited overs pre-season clash played at the Kingsway ground in a northern suburb of the Western Australian capital city was supported well by the local community. The West Aussies won the toss and elected to bat first.

Australian keeper Adam Gilchrist and Wanneroo local Mike Hussey played themselves in on a moist wicket but then hammered the attack. - Gilchrist especially. In the latter half of his innings 'Gilly' bolted from 25 to 101 runs before a drinks break was called and both batsmen retired with Hussey on 55 and WA effectively 2 wickets down for 163 from 33 overs. Dighton returned to the pavillion first ball after drinks. Then in his first WA game for quite a while Tom Moody took a few overs to get started but also picked up the scoring pace in the latter part of his innings, supported well by debutant Shaun Marsh. Moody miss cued high into the air and was caught at cover by former West Indian and KZN captain Eldine Baptiste after a flourish and having scored 55 runs just three balls shy of the end of innings. At the close of the innings Shaun Marsh was unbeaten on 22 and Rogers had been unable to score four down for 245.

The KwaZulu Natal bowling seemed to be very inconsistent as they struggled with the soft conditions. A stand out performance from John Kent snapping up the only 2 real wickets of the innings. Kent was supported by his captain Baptiste and Veenstra who both bowled without a success.

Chasing 245 Brown was very slow, surviving his opening partner Gobind's early loss but falling in the 18th over LBW to the overlooked Nikitaras with just 8 runs to his name with the team total at just 44/2.

Kent came in next and blazed away making 22 runs in a brief spell of 20 balls hitting a ball up for Michael Hussey to catch. Amla's sheet anchor roll of 31 was useful but too little too late as KwaZulu Natal had floundered to 78/4 in the 25th over. Former South African test batsman Andrew Hudson was brief with 7 trapped LBW to big Jo Angel. Then the only high-light in them that followed was Pietersen with 30 from as many balls including 2 fours and 2 sixes. KwaZulu Natal slumped to be all out in the 47th over with 166 on the board.

3 wickets each to Cary, Nikitaras and Harvey will send a strong message to the WA selectors. Angel performed solidly with his solitary wicket and Nicholson bowled freely but not waywardly and was unrewarded.

The game was played in warm spirits, WA looked to be very focussed, while KZN were happy to enjoy their first outing inunfamilliar surroundings. Eldine Baptiste seems larger than life - an entertainer he keeps the morale of his troops high. And they will need it. Unlike Yorkshire who toured here for a preseason warm up at the end of the last Australian season, KwaZulu Natal are not being supported by club members and the players families whilst on tour. South African supporters living in Perth (of which there is usually no shortage) are urged to support this team at Kingsway, Wanneroo, tomorrow and at Lilac Hill, Caversham, this weekend, and in Broome on the 24th.