2nd Semi Final: KwaZulu-Natal v Eastern Province at Durban, 18 Feb 2001 CricInfo Live Report

2nd Semi Final: KwaZulu-Natal v Eastern Province at Durban, 18 Feb 2001
Peter Robinson

Pre-game: EP bat first,
Eastern Province innings: Rain stops play,

PETERSON AND EP RUN RIOT BEFORE RAIN STOPS PLAY

With Robin Peterson revelling in his role as makeshift opener, Eastern Province pasted a listless Natal attack all over Kingsmead in the Standard Bank Cup semifnal playoff on Sunday before rain stopped play at 237 for two after 39 overs.

Peterson hammered out 94 off 73 balls as the Jumbos ran riot before the rain came down. The visitors had been sent in to bat under threatening skies, but with the Natal bowlers failing to exploit helpful conditions Peterson laid into the attack.

He was particularly severe on the Natal spinnners, Gulam Bodi, who took five wickets on Friday night, and Lance Klusener. Klusener tossed up three overs of off breaks off a two-step run up and he was hit all around the ground by Peterson whose innings contained five sixes and five fours, conceding 28 runs. Bodi fared little better, going for 32 off his first four overs as Peterson’s furious hitting provided EP with the perfect platform.

The Jumbos had lost Carl Bradfield in the 11th over of the innings, caught at the wicket off Eldine Baptiste, but Peterson and James Bryant then put on 112 off 91 balls for the second wicket to rip the game away from the Natalians.

Peterson was eventually caught by Jon Kent running from mid off as he sought to hit Shaun Pollock for the six that would have taken him to a thoroughly deserved century, but he had already inflicted far more damage on Natal’s chances of a place in the final than they ever could have feared.

Justin Kemp replaced Peterson to continue the slaughter, racing to his 50 off 38 deliveries as he and Bryant put on 82 for the third wicket before heavy drizzle forced the players off the field. At that point Bryant was on 68 with Kemp on 52.

JUMBOS ASKED TO BAT FIRST IN SBC DECIDER

KwaZulu-Natal captain Dale Benkenstein won the toss and sent Eastern Province in to bat beneath overcast skies in the Standard Bank Cup semi-final playoff match at Kingsmead on Sunday.

The home side made one change from the team that lost to EP by 28 runs on Friday with Ashraf Mall coming into the side in place of Ahmed Amla. EP, meanwhile, retained Friday night’s team. Natal won the first leg of the semi-final by nine wickets in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.

Teams

KwaZulu-Natal: Doug Watson, Gulam Bodi, Wade Wingfield, Dale Benkenstein (capt), Jon Kent, Lance Klusener, Errol Stewart, Shaun Pollock, Ashraf Mall, Eldine Baptiste, Jon Bastow.

Eastern Province: Carl Bradfield (capt), Wayne Murray, James Bryant, Justin Kemp, Dave Callaghan, Mark Benfield, Robin Peterson, Shafiek Abrahams, Meyrick Pringle, Garnett Kruger, Nantie Hayward.