A drizzly, grey day at Kingsmead caused the first day of the SuperSport Series match between Natal and Griqualand West to be abandoned at 1.15pm on Friday, leaving just the composition of the home XI to occupy the minds of the meagre spectators who pitched up in hope.
All-rounder Lance Klusener will join fellow international Shaun Pollock on the sidelines for the match, as he is still feeling some discomfort from his first bowling spell out in the middle in the Natal B limited-overs match at the beginning of the week.
Natal's fitness specialist, Andrew Shedlock, said Friday that Klusener was not yet ready for four-day cricket.
``If this game had been a one-dayer, then Lance could have played and bowled his short spell of overs and left the field. But he's not yet operating off a full run-up and you can't go into a four-day match with a bowler who is half-fit. Although he's coming along better than we thought - we were aiming for the first week of December for his return - he is feeling the ankle a bit after his seven overs for Natal B and we just thought it wasn't worth risking it.''
Shedlock noted that Klusener ``has been very mature'' and ``is not trying to rush back'' even though the team for the first Test against the West Indies is obviously in the back of his mind.
``Lance has shown great discipline and is not trying to do too much too soon, even though he obviously wants to get out there and show the selectors he's ready. He's willing to wait until he's 100% fit.''
Pollock, also unable to bowl due to a lower back strain, should be ready for next weekend's SuperSport Series match against Gauteng, according to Shedlock.
``You should have seen Shaun bowl in the nets on Thursday. He's got the intensity back and is bowling comfortably.''
The back injury has not been the only worry for Pollock recently. Apparently his favourite bat, a Slazenger V6, was stolen earlier this week from under the rest of his kit in his ``coffin''.
``I really love the bat and so I'm offering R1 000 for any information leading to its return,'' Pollock said yesterday.
Depending on the weather, play will get underway at 9am Saturday, but the weather forecast Friday afternoon was not promising.
Likely Natal XI: Mark Bruyns, Doug Watson, Errol Stewart, Andrew Hudson, Jonty Rhodes, Dale Benkenstein (capt), Keith Forde, Gary Gilder, Shaun Adam, Jannie Dreyer, Craig Tatton.
Day 4 Report
Natal made a valiant effort to win their SuperSport Series match at Kingsmead yesterday, but Griqualand West had just too many runs in the bank and Dale Benkenstein's team had to settle for a draw.
Chasing 345 after their disappointing efforts on the two previous days, one would have thought Natal's sole aim would be to save the game after they slipped to 46 for three an hour before lunch, but Andrew Hudson, with support from Jonty Rhodes, Dale Benkenstein and Keith Forde, led a remarkable turnaround and Natal were certainly giving the target a long and hard look when they entered the final hour needing 98 off 16 overs.
Impressive West Indian paceman Ottis Gibson made the early inroads into the Natal innings, dismissing Doug Watson and Errol Stewart, who would have to admit their cut shots were ill-advised. Pat Symcox, the veteran off-spinner and former Natal star, then had Mark Bruyns adjudged caught bat/pad and the prospects of a Griquas victory looked rosy.
But Jonty Rhodes, playing just about every shot in the book, then took control and scored a delightful 46 off 59 balls with nine fours. He and Hudson took the total past 100 and Natal went into lunch with their heads above water.
But Rhodes was out in the fourth over after the interval, also falling to Gibson as his flash outside the off-stump mirrored his first-innings dismissal and Natal were once again under the whip at 104 for four.
The composed Hudson and captain Benkenstein, showing the same temperament that characterised his recent international debut in Bangladesh, took Natal to 204, before Gibson, getting a ball to jag back off the generally unresponsive pitch, found Benkenstein's inside edge to send the ball crashing on to the stumps. Natal's admirable young captain had scored a fine 48 off 120 balls, with four fours and a majestic six off Symcox, and had provided Hudson with invaluable support.
Benkenstein fell shortly after tea, with 141 required from 30 overs, but Keith Forde was just the man for such a challenging run rate, although had Natal lost another wicket at that stage it would have placed them in deep trouble as their long tail would have been exposed.
But the next hour-and-a-half belonged to Hudson and Forde as they all but ensured the game was safe and played some brilliant attacking cricket to suggest a victory was possible.
Hudson, the former South African opener but perhaps more successful now that he has shifted to the middle order, went to a well-deserved five-hour century off 231 balls. He had not only been Natal's salvation, but also kept their hopes of a sensational victory alive.
Forde streaked to his 50 off 71 balls, with a majestic six over the covers landing in the street behind Castle Corner, as the pair got the target down to 54 off 45 balls.
But Hudson, on 108, skied a Gibson slower ball high into the covers, and was well-caught by man of the match Mickey Arthur, who will remember this match for his career-best 137 on the third day. Hudson had used his trademark driving to good effect in striking 12 boundaries in his 13th century for Natal and one of the most valuable.
Forde, well set, now had the tail for company, but when Gary Gilder stupidly ran him out the chase came to an end.
Griquas were now back in with a chance of winning, needing three wickets in five overs against a long tail that is a cause of much concern for Natal going into the season.
Gilder and Shaun Adam survived, not always in orthodox fashion, and a contest that was rather sick for the first two days (Friday washed out, 20 wickets on Saturday) ended in exciting fashion with a popular result.
Gibson highlighted a very good Griquas effort. Battling with a bad groin, he followed up his three wickets in the first innings with a top-class performance of five for 80 on a flat pitch in the second. Symcox, who will no doubt be the subject of much discussion in the national selectors' meeting in a few weeks, was containing, but seldom threatened on a pitch that held few terrors for the batsmen and finished with one for 122 from his 42 overs.
Natal had earlier needed just 15 deliveries to wrap up the Griquas second innings for 326, Craig Tatton trapping Deon Kruis lbw to finish with a well-deserved maiden five-wicket haul, and Jannie Dreyer had Gibson caught behind off a nasty lifter.
Having disappointed over the weekend, Natal eventually sparked on the final day, the middle-order batsmen producing the goods, but they were unable to engineer a victory they probably did not deserve.