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Mark Lavine has a realistic chance of making the South Africa team.

That's the view of his fellow Barbadian fast bowling all-rounder Vasbert Drakes.

The 28-year-old Lavine, a citizen of South Africa following his marriage to Johannesburg-born Patricia, has just completed a fine all- round SuperSport season for North West.

Mark has a very good chance of representing South Africa if you're going to pick the side on merit, Drakes said.

In the last year or so, he has grown as an individual and as a cricketer. Mark was always a talented cricketer, but in terms of consistency, he was never one of the most consistent players.

Lavine, who played a handful of first-class matches for Barbados, is on record as saying he is interested in challenging for a place in the South Africa team.

The 2000-01 season was his third successive season with North West and he emerged as the club's second highest run-scorer and second highest wicket-taker.

In nine matches, the Potchefstroom resident took 30 wickets (ave. 33.16) including three hauls of five or more wickets in an innings.

As a batsman coming in mainly at No. 6 or 7, he scored 477 runs (ave29.81) in nine matches. His best score was 113 against Border, the side which Drakes represents.

I thought that was one of the better innings played for the season, Drakes said.

Lavine's bowling and catching were also impressive, Drakes added.

He's one of the biggest fishes in South Africa's cricket, Drakes said.

He's still young and I think he has a bright future ahead of him.

Lavine is one of five West Indians who played in the recently- concluded 2000-01 South African domestic season.

Drakes completed his third successive year for Border for which he captured a season-high 41 wickets (ave. 23.78) and scored 360 runs(ave. 24.00).

Another Barbadian, Ottis Gibson enjoyed unspectacular returns for Gauteng, his five matches bringing him 16 wickets (ave 27.68) and 143 runs (20.42).

Former West Indies fast bowler Kenny Benjamin started the season in impressive form for Easterns, but was sidelined by injury towards the end. Benjamin, who recently announced his retirement from first-class cricket, took 29 wickets (ave 18.93) in five matches.

Benjamin's fellow Antiguan, 41-year-old Eldine Baptiste had a modest season with six wickets (ave 40.16) and 157 runs (ave 26.16) in six matches for KwaZula-Natal.

© The Barbados Nation