Day 1: Province finds batting spine in the tail

EAST LONDON (South Africa) - John Commins, suddenly thrust back into the role as captain after Craig Matthews did an ankle, decided to follow W G Grace's well-versed advice and bat first at Buffalo Park yesterday.

After all it is the SuperSport Series final and getting first use of the batting conditions has usually been an advantage. Only this time Commins looked on with bemused horror and no doubt laced with certain grim fascination as Western Province made the sort of start a captain has in his worst nightmare.

First Tyrone Henderson dismantled the top-order and then Vasbert Drakes ripped out the middle as Border had the better of the first day's scrap shortened by bad light which meant an earlier start this morning.

So, at 32 for five by the middle of the 22nd over, I guess Commins would have had no problems at all in settling for a total of 180 for eight, and without too many questions asked, and Alan Dawson on 50 not out. Given the circumstances it would have been far more than he could have expected. Yet to suggest that the top and middle order batsmen showed the skills of an amoeba while the tail provided the spine is an over-simplification of a day of triumph for the bowler and tribulation for the batsmen.

Apart from smudging the bowling efforts of Henderson, Drakes and to an extent Deon Taljard, it would have ignored their contribution to this first day's play. They bowled with purpose and accuracy and gave nothing away. Even when Eric Simons with a top score of 75 and Commins, with 19, began the first patch up job in a partnership of 49, there was always the impression the bowlers would break through.

Drakes, the Bajan the West Indies Cricket Board for their own peculiar reasons continue to snub, bowled consistently well, delivering a line which had the batsmen edging for ones and twos with the occasional drive by Simons. Taljard, who has that unshaved habit which gives him the appearance, if he was wearing an eye patch, of being an extra miscast in a remake of Treasure Island, engineered the collapse when he bowled Brian McMillan. It was a delivery which stood straight up off the seam and cut between bat and pad. An honest toiler at the best of times, Taljard produced something extra.

He drew a rebuke though from Test umpire Dave Orchard when he picked up a return from Prince and hurled back at the batsman. It caught the young Province man on the inside of the thigh and caused a nasty bruise which by breakfast today was a variety of purple shades. It was a thoughtless act and his captain, Pieter Strydom should have also said something.

It is one thing to get up some one's nose, but to hurl a ball at a batsman metres from the stumps is taking the spirit of law (note 7 of Law 3 and note 13, Law 42) a tad too far, Let's have aggression, but keep it in the spirit of the game.

Then it was Henderson's turn as Lloyd Ferreira, Ashwell Prince and HD Ackerman fell in rapid succession. It was not a pretty sight; although the bowler had the line right and allowed the skills and disciplines to do the work as he put the ball in the right place. A cheerful young man with broad shoulders and a the right competitive spirit.

As one of the growing band of promising young seam bowlers around the country Henderson emerged this season with the selectors taking note. He was included in the World Cup squad of 30, but is not yet the right sort of bowler for English conditions. He could end up on the short list of the SuperSport Series ``Recruit'' of the season. And Drakes might just win that player of the series award.

So, as Border's bowlers worked their way through the Province innings and met stubborn resistance from Simons and Dawson, they became a little edgy and frustrated: this was notable of Taljard while Piet Botha produced some fine cut and seam and watched with some admiration as his captain pulled off a quite brilliant catch to get rid of Paul Kirsten.

It was dismissal which brought Dawson to the crease and with Simons they paddled the Province canoe out of the rapids and into calmer waters. The pity was Simons losing his wicket to a leading edge late in the day, but he had done his job and no one was complaining in the visitors dressing room.

Drakes ended the day with 50 wickets so far this season and quite happy with his efforts. He's not greedy and believes in sharing the spoils of victory. However he was unable to guide Makhaya Ntini through a troubled opening spell. He withdrew after a fitness test before the match made him realise he was not going to last the match. A wise decision.

Day 2: Big-hearted effort by Dawson rescues Province

EAST LONDON (South Africa) - Anyone who knows a little about the modern first-class game in South Africa would be able to tell you that Alan Dawson once opened the batting for Western Province.

Which, by way of introduction, explains there is a lot more behind his scoring a maiden century, and at nine in the order in the SuperSport final against Border, than most latter-day critics would be aware. To them his last wicket rescue act in the semi-final of the Commonwealth Games against Sri Lanka at Kuala Lumpur last September is about as far back as their knowledge stretches.

Beyond that there is a vacuum of the usual ``Alan ... Who ... ?'' when he was included in the Games team after Lance Klusener's injury forced his withdrawal. Dawson was on tour of Sri Lanka with the South African A team when that bit of news managed to seep through the monsoon clouds.

A solid competitor better known for his bowling, a horticulturists, a founding member of the ``Thirsties Club'' and someone who will give you 120 percent, ``Dawes'' is not your average bowler who likes to bat a bit given the opportunity. Like most ``Nice Guys'' his recognition has come in the mid to late stages of his career and in Kuala Lumpur he was more worried about his wife's health with the first baby due than his batting and bowling abilities.

That's ``Dawes'' give him any job and he'll do what he can fix it. At Kurunegala in central Sri Lanka last August with temperatures in the mid 30s he bowled through the two hours pre-lunch session. And after lunch, he shared the attack again for another half hour.

And all this despite niggling decisions by Lahalee Jayasundara, no doubt one of the worst umpires it has been the player's misfortune to encounter; yet at the end of the Sri Lanka A innings the next day, he managed to perform a miracle six wickets for 44 runs in 23.3 overs.

Today he did it again; with the bat this time. Not out 51 overnight and the last support strut in Eric Simons gone for what had, at that stage, been a top-score of 75, Province began the day on 180 for eight and Claude Henderson and the rookie, Joffre, remaining as his partners.

As he nursed a nasty bruise from an unpleasant lifter early in his innings from Tyron Henderson, Dawes also eased the Province innings along.

Where as on the first day a suggestion of Province reaching a first innings total of 150 would have earned you 25-1 odds, the glorious uncertainty of the first-class game lived up to its traditional ``aye, but t's a foony game'' reputation. Okay if 200 was considered a psychological barrier was 250 and indeed 300?

To reach 302 before Dawes top-edged a catch to Henderson to depart with 143 etched next to his name in the records, was a major coup for the visitors. And an innings lasting 330 mintues and involving smacking 290 balls around the ground, or patted back with a sheepish grin or a frown, depending on the force of the stroke, is the sort of marathon where statistics play their role as well. We had 16 fours and a six with a fine leg-glance off Henderson to bring up the cherished 100 mark.

There were some profitable strokeplay and when he was joined by Joffre at 215 for nine he began to attack the bowling with more aggression, yet doing what he could to shield his partner. Tactically it was good to watch.

Little wonder there was that cheeky grin when he hauled off the helmet and saluted a dressing room which gave him a standing ovation at a Buffalo Park which was inhabited by more sea gulls than spectators.

It may be a sea side town and a sleepy one at that, with any number of people telling you how they're going to watch, but the absenteeism at what amounts to a prestige final suggests East London doesn't deserve to host the final. Not the lack of support for a side which has done more for the region in one season than any other sports code over the last 50 years.

What did aid, to an extent, Province's ability to carry on their survival well into the second session, was some strange decisions by Border captain Pieter Strydom. There was no initial pressure on the Province batsmen as they survived the first half hour, and Vasbert Drakes had to ask for a short-leg for bat-pad decisions and add some pressure as well.

Not at all clever thinking. On day one the bowlers did it all and there was some find fielding in support. On day two the bowlers did a bit and the fielders cut off about 30 runs, but there was a lack of urgency about Border's game plan. It was a session and a half of frustration and Deon Taljard took to hurling the ball about again when his efforts to trap either Henderson or Dawson registered zero in the umpires scale of important decisions.

No doubt Strydom will have an answer for this criticism, based on tactics, but what is seen and the way Dawson batted, showed that somewhere, somehow the plan did not work as well as it may have in theory. Yet Border seemed to be waiting for something to happen than trying to make it happen.

In the end Dawson and Joffre got their name stencilled in the Province records with a 10th wicket partnership which ended that held by Richie Ryall and Meyrick Pringle, also scored against Border. What did not shape up was the highest score by a batsman coming in at nine and scoring a century. It fell short of that mark.

Before the bad light and rain descended on the scene Border had managed to reduce the deficit

by 56 runs for the loss of Bard White's wicket to Simons. Craig Sugden hit some handsome strokes to reach 40 not out with Piet Botha holding up the other end.

Day 3: Border collapse signals more final drama

EAST LONDON (South Africa) - On the scale of collapses Border's first innings effort yesterday would probably not register as much excitement as the implosion of a sand castle at near by Nahoon Beach.

In fact there probably would have been more spectators witness to that gritty event than those who braved the sticky hot day at Buffalo Park as Border, before lunch, tossed what chances they had of making a fight of it: five wickets for 14 runs was the sorry tale of indifferent batting technique against steady bowling.

So, in terms of their taking the SuperSport Series final by beating Western Province only an unshakeable belief and the tooth fairy visiting Buffalo Park is likely to prevent the space age designed trophy being deposited in the trophy cabinet at Newlands come Tuesday.

Bad weather again closed over the day's events leaving Province 198 runs ahead and six sessions remaining after Border, bowled out for a first innings total of 191 batted about as well as they had bowled the day before. At the close on yet another soupy afternoon in terms of bad light/rain/Scotch mist, take your pick, Province had hauled themselves to 87 for one. Which is the difference between making the most of your chances and failing to live up to your hopes.

In fact, it could have been a lot harder for Border, but Steve Pope was dropped before lunch and instead of being 97 for seven, Border momentarily profited on a pitch which is docile and where the general standard of play has, take away the contributions from Alan Dawson and the all-round skill of Eric Simons, been generally pretty average. At a push Vasbert Drakes could find his way on to this list, and Craig Sugden at one stage looked as though he had a chance to put up his hand for acknowledgement as well.

Unfortunately this is what can be expected from a match where one of the sides has relied on Drakes to takes the wickets and the batting has not been notable for establishing firm reputations.

But I digress. Pope, limited as he is, managed to scrape together a handsome enough total of 61 and with wicketkeeper Ian Mitchell, added 80 in 39 overs. It could be argued that the pedestrian pace of this partnership was due mainly to that early collapse, started when the wily Eric Simons trapped Piet Botha in front with the Border innings reaching 70 in the 22nd over of the innings.

And Border, sliding to 84 for six in a matter of 60 balls was as much of their own undoing as quality bowling from Simons created doubt in the minds of the batsmen.

Sugden, who fell for 44, looked to have got some glove or bat handle on a ball which Paul Kirsten took an went up in a war dance of glee which would have made Sitting Big Catch happy to claim. Dave Orchard, the umpire was unmoved. He found more sympathy with an ``elbe'' appeal, though, the last ball of the same over.

Never mind it came off an inside edge first. But this was not Eden Gardens, Calcutta, and no Indian was involved. Buffalo Park is a long way from that cauldron of dissent when things go wrong and the human touch of an umpire's honest error costs the side a valuable wicket.

Before lunch on each day of the match the ball has behaved a little differently: zipping around and making it difficult for any batsman unless they are prepared to work for their runs al a Simons and Dawson. And that's the difference between the two sides so far this game.

Pope's fortunate survival at least saw Border put together a first innings reply of 191 and by the close Province had stretched this to198. Commins, no doubt, will look at setting a 300 plus target some time today. But the way the weather has been closing late afternoon, the disruption of the last session is a factor he has to keep in mind.

On a more technical statistical note, Robin Isherwood, the man who checks the proofs of the South African annual and a man noted for his knowledge of South African players and records as well as being a member of the Association of Cricket Statisticians, has come up with proof that Dawson's 143 is indeed the highest by a South African batsman coming in at nine in a first-class game.

For those interested here is the list is giving below.

Highest score in each batting position

1. 307* TN Lazard, Bol v WP at Worcester (FC) 1993/94
   279* RA Gripper, Rho v OFS at Bloemfontein (CC) 1967/68
2. 306* EAB Rowan, Tvl v Ntl at Johannesburg (FC) 1939/40
   258 C Richardson, OFS v Tvl at Johannesburg (CC) 1959/60
3. 299* DG Bradman, Aus v SA (3rd Test) at Adelaide (FC) 1931/32
   271* JE Cheetham, WP v OFS at Bloemfontein (CC) 1950/51
4. 337* DJ Cullinan, Tvl v N Tvl at Johannesburg 1993/94
5. 294 AJ Lamb, OFS v EP at Bloemfontein 1987/88
6. 214 GS Blewett, Aus v SA (1st Test) at Johannesburg (FC) 1996/97
   207* DW Begbie, Tvl v OFS at Johannesburg (CC) 1937/38
7. 208* DPB Morkel, WP v Ntl at Cape Town 1929/30
8. 165* EA Brandes, ZB XI v GW at Kimberley 1994/95
9. 134 LA Markham, Ntl v OFS at Durban 1947/48
10. 113 BC Cooley, Ntl v WP at Johannesburg 1906/07
11. 84 LR Tuckett, OFS v WP at Bloemfontein 1925/26

Day 4: Ackerman and Drakes in a duel in the sun

EAST LONDON (South Africa) - For those who believe in a touch of swashbuckling romance on the field the sight of two worthy combatants battling for superiority provides the sort of theatre which ranks among Oscar style performances.

Perhaps it was my chiding of the players about the disappointment standard of play provided in this SuperSport Series final which raised a level of performance a couple of rungs. If so then HD Ackerman looked the part of a batsman out to re-establish himself after a decidedly mediocre season. Border, however, had to rely on their hired Bajan hitman, Vasbert Drakes to keep them in with a faint chance.

At this stage, however, I fancy Province's chances. Anyone looking at the pitch after day three and today would be quick to point out that Ackerman's innings was as crucial for Province as was Drakes bowling for Border. To score 249 in their second innings on a pitch where the cracks are widening and day five looming was a solid effort with the backbone coming from young HD. It set Border a victory target of 361 with time in hand, and at 96 for one by the close was a steady reply: it leaves them a further 265 runs with nine wickets in hand.

To set up this challenge, however, we were treated to one of the better innings I have seem this summer outside the Tests. What we had was an innings of 98 not out from young HD, a well-crafted display of style and concentration levels; the sort which earned him centuries for South Africa A in Sri Lanka last year. It enabled Western Province, in search of the SuperSport Series Trophy.

Drakes, with a five for 48 haul, took his tally of first-class wickets this season to 56, which in terms of the old Currie Cup, Castle Cup and now the SSS, is the sort of effort likely to earn him the player of the season award.

Depending how well you know your history, the name Ackerman is not unknown in these parts. Young HD's dad, Hylton, now the Boland coach and also attached to the national academy earned more Nuffield caps while at Dale College than just about any one else. He also played for Border as a teenager. But after his college days were over he went to Pretoria (military service), and then Natal before ending up with Western Province.

Now HD is carrying on the tradition. Perhaps not as classical as his dad, but they style is there, the cover drive and the cut, worked to perfection. He's good with soft hands as well. He would love to get back into the South African side but the selectors give the impression they have forgotten him.

Which is a pity as he could make a solid contribution to the national team at six in the order once Jonty Rhodes retires, and that could be after the World Cup.

Drakes had Province under pressure. His five wickets were the sort which made it difficult for the batsmen, HD apart, to settle in and build a total which would have been more than a few runs too many for Border to get.

The cracks on the pitch could aid Eric Simons in his farewell first-class match, it could also help Joffre who gets bounce and lift, and Alan Dawson if he is fit to bowl, while Claude Henderson has much to offer with his left arm spin.

If Drakes is likely to get the man of the series, the man of the match is less simple: Dawson, Simons and Ackerman are three candidates with Drakes the lone offering from Border.

The problem is the TV commentators at SuperSport have become so arrogant they make the Man of the match and ``recruit'' awards without consulting the print media for an opinion where games are televised. It smacks of a dictatorial approach and it could end up with the print media making their own choice, as almost happened at Centurion Park last weekend.

Day 5: Province's title as Eric bows out

EAST LONDON (South Africa) - While Pieter Strydom stated the all too obvious ``we did not score enough runs'' and Border's batsmen played the Dead March to perfection at Buffalo Park yesterday, the real tear-jerker came when Eric Simons gave a sheepish grin.

In a wry after-match comment Western Province captain Craig Matthews paid a tribute to the gentle, yet evergreen all-rounder who began life as an A Section player before the SuperSport Channel was born.

``We'll all miss him, old Horse Chestnut,'' he said of Simons who had been saddled with this incongruous sobriquet by his Province teammates at the start of is his last season.

At least ``Hero'' as he was known in his debut season for Northerns when taking 52 wickets and helping that province into two finals that 1984/85 season while in Pretoria on military duty, had a hand in helping Province wrap up the SuperSport Series title by 163 runs. Six wickets and an innings of 75, which launched the fightback five days before, was imprint enough in what was his last harrah to the first-class game he had adorned for 15 seasons.

The least Matthews could have done as he held the trophy aloft was to have asked Simons to come and share the honour. Matthews my get another chance, but this was farewell for the man who at Berea Park on a Friday 15 summers before had bowled superbly to rout a Transvaal mean machine at the age of 21.

Border must have fancied their chances when at 96 for one they began the day's procedings as they looked at the mountain to climb in a bid to knock off the remaining 265 to win. After all the run rate was a required 2.53 an over. Just work the ball around. Play it into the gaps. Look how Simons, Alan Dawson and HD Ackerman had managed it for Province. It's all about building an innings.

Craig Sugden, of whom it is said KwaZulu/Natal would like back in their ranks next season, as well as Tyron Henderson, played several overs and became too impatient and blew it. Ryan Joffre eventfully had one stand up from hitting the ever-widening cracks and Sugden must have thought what a juicy ball to plant over the mid-wicket boundary.

The result was top-edge; not your ordinary top-edge mind you but a full-blooded swing which had the ball skying off toward mid-wicket. Sugden departed for 41, adding just six runs to his overnight total, and a far wiser young man. Well, that is what is hoped as when he departed the game swung as dramatically as it had in the first innings.

Border may have built sand castles in the sky when they reached the final, but they came tumbling again. Piet Botha went in the next over, bowled by Simons and the next ball Strydom, the Border captain was found in front with Cyril Mitchley not hesitating as the all-rounder had the distinction of bagging a pair.

This time the Walls of Jericho started tumbling faster than Border could have thought possible. If they though picking off the runs was going to be easy, they should have examined the pitch conditions and then worked on a more positive game plan. The way they batted indicated they had no game plan, or lost it on the way to the crease. So Wayne Wiblin might feel a little miffed about the lbw decision handed out by Dave Orchard, but whether he would have made any real contribution is another matter.

He looked uncomfortable, as if wielding a toothpick when facing Joffre or Simons or Dawson. There was also the impression he was not too certain where his off-stump was at times. But that's a mistake which can be sorted out.

In his wisdom before the start of play, Strydom called for the heavy roller. Whether that was to squeeze the life, if any out of the surface, and to stop the cracks from widening needs to be closely examined. The ploy failed: there was bounce and lift and the batsmen were all troubled by the behaviour of the pitch. It was more up than down and Joffre and Simons had the ball to kick nastily at times.

Had a Shane Warne or Stewart MacGill been bowling there is some doubt whether Border would have reached 150 let alone the 361 wanted on a wearing pitch. It would have alsom put in place Craig Stirk's misdirected comment where he felt spinners should play a containing role and allow the dibbly-dobbers get on with the job. It sparks little confidence in youngsters who want to become spinners.

To be told that their role is to be that of a defensive bowler takes away the need to cultivate young bowlers. There are several who heard the remark and wondered if there is a place for them in the game. Such loose talk should be seen at face value: to be ignored.

Henderson, who edged David Townsend as the SuperSport Series recruit of the year, also committed further game plan folly by running himself out, and from the way the talk had gone on throughout the match it was always known that Vasbert Drakes would collect the man of the series award.

They may be consolation awards as Dawes won the man of the match award (deservedly so) and Border were left to reflect on what they did wrong. They failed in their efforts to dominate at any time when they batted. There was always the impression a wicket was about to fall.

Province were far too professional and just too streetwise for Border.

The ``We'll be back next year'' comment from Strydom is accurate enough, but how they will manage under the new format is another matter. They failed when their batting fell apart in both innings and against steady, accurate bowling. And so the SuperSport Series trophy is over for another season. Reputations count for nothing and that which Border earned this summer could be as shaky as their next match.