Date-stamped : 22 Feb95 - 10:39 Castle Cup 1994/95 : Transvaal v Eastern Province Johannesburg, 17-21 Feb 1995 Despite a brave 54 from Jimmy Cook, playing in what is probably his final first class innings, Transvaal lost their way and failed by 45 runs to steal victory from Eastern Province on the final day of their Castle Cup cricket match at Wanderers. Set a victory target of 334 runs in 90 overs, the home team reached 289 for nine. In the end it was EP who claimed a moral victory, taking home 8 bonus points to Tvl`s six. But not before Cook, who will almost certainly retire from first class cricket at the end of the season, almost steered Tvl to victory. When he was out, it started a mini batting collapse and it was left to Rowan Lyle and Nick Pothas to resist for 12 overs to deny EP victory in turn. The visitors, who were looking to accelerate in the morning to effect an early declaration, were frustrated as they continually lost wickets in trying to accumulate runs. First, Louis Koen had his leg stump removed by Richard Snell, but not before he and his captain Philip Amm had added 151 runs for the second wicket. After that, Martin Venter, Greg Miller, Eldine Baptiste and Grant Morgan all went while adding only 11 to the total. Amm was seventh wicket down after having scored his first Cup century of the season - 118 lasting over four hours with 7 boundaries. Amm and Koen had given EP a secure platform, Koen scoring 74 su- perb runs, but the fall of seven wickets for the addition of just 42 runs meant that Amm had to delay his declaration. Transvaal began the chase slowly but solidly, Adam Bacher scoring an enter- taining 70 runs. Cook joined Pollock to add 75 runs for the fifth wicket, when Pollock was run out for 32 by a direct hit from Shaw, fielding at point. After this three wickets fell without addition, Transvaal abandoning hope of victory. Source :: SAPA Contributed by Tony.Hassett (hasett@scinet.up.ac.za)