KwaZulu-Natal v Border

Natal's brave weekend play could not save them from a defeat brought on by a woeful first-innings performance when their SuperSport Series match against Border ended at Kingsmead in Durban yesterday.

Natal were deep in the mire on Saturday, trailing by 258 runs on the first innings, but an odd decision by Border not to enforce the follow on allowed Natal to stage a tremendous fightback on the third afternoon and they began yesterday's play needing a further 243 runs with eight wickets in hand for an astonishing victory.

But, as has been the case in their other two four-day games this season, there were a couple of cameo performances but no batsman was able to go on to the big score needed to secure a vital win if Natal were to have any hopes of competing for the SuperSport Series title. In fact, after Doug Watson (42), Errol Stewart (74) and Andrew Hudson (57) had all batted attractively to maintain their slim victory hopes, Natal collapsed yesterday afternoon from 191 for four to 230 all out to lose by 134 runs.

Stewart, the caretaker captain while Dale Benkenstein is out injured, agreed after the game that Natal's main problem was their batting.

``With the very talented line-up we've got, we really should be doing better than 178 and 230 all out. The problem is guys come in and make 50s but no one goes on to make the centuries that we have to get in if we're going to get big scores. Something's lacking at the moment, but I can't quite put my finger on it. It's not a lack of effort though. The guys are working really hard ... in fact maybe they're trying too hard. We must just try and stay positive and enjoy the game.''

Resuming at their overnight total of 122 for two, Natal added 67 runs before rain stopped play at 11.15am, but it cost them the wickets of Stewart and Jonty Rhodes. Stewart had gone to a composed 74, his second half-century of the match, before Makhaya Ntini dismissed him with a fine away-swinger.

Rhodes fell for six when he was caught at short fine leg playing a sweep shot that was met with some derision by on-lookers, although with Pieter Strydom bowling into the rough outside leg stump, run-scoring opportunities were scarce and Rhodes had to take the occasional chance.

When play resumed two hours later, the game was interestingly poised with Natal needing 176 runs from 60 overs with six wickets standing and a well-set Hudson partnered by Shaun Pollock.

But West Indian paceman Vasbert Drakes immediately returned to the attack and removed Hudson for a stylish 57, opening the way for his fearsome onslaught with the second new ball.

Pollock showed some defiance in scoring 24 before Tyron Henderson had him caught in the slips, and Lance Klusener made 17, but once they were gone, Robbie MacQueen and Jannie Dreyer submitted weakly and Gary Gilder did not bat after a bad blow to the head on Saturday.

Stewart is not the sort of captain to wallow in negativity and, although obviously disappointed with the way things eventually turned out, he said he had been greatly heartened by Natal's play on Saturday when they shot Border out for 106 in their second innings.

``I was very surprised when Border didn't ask us to follow on as we were really down on Saturday morning, but then Jannie Dreyer came through with a top-class spell after lunch (three for 22) and we thought we could snatch a victory.''

Dreyer was well-supported by left-arm spinner Anthony Botha, who picked up three for 37 in a sound 17-over spell, and Klusener (three for 29), who wrapped up the innings in emphatic fashion.

Watson was then at his fluent best as he made 42 off 69 balls and, with Stewart compiling a gritty half-century, Natal began yesterday in a position to attack their victory target of 365.

The bowling of Drakes (five for 50) dashed those hopes, enabling Border, a side of few stars but top-class application, to extend their lead on top of the SuperSport Series log.