Hard fought win for WSB Western Province as they march into the CSA 4-Day Series final
NEWLANDS – World Sports Betting Western Province men left no stone unturned in their CSA 4-Day Series must win clash against Hollywoodbets Dolphins on Friday.
Salieg Nackerdien’s charges marched into the tournament’s final in style after defeating the Durban outfit by an innings and 259 runs at World Sports Betting Newlands Cricket Ground this past week.
Province captain Kyle Verreynne won the toss and chose to bat first on home turf, Wednesday morning. A move that saw the home side capitalise on day 1.
The home side boasted three centuries in their innings as they posted a mammoth total of 592/6 before declaring.
The opening pair of Tony de Zorzi (72) and Daniel Smith (106) gave Province to a comfortable start in the first innings.
Meanwhile, Gavin Kaplan (173) who only in his second game of the season registered his maiden first class century. Captain Verreynne knocked 135 off 142 balls to extend the damage by blade.
With the high score posted by Province, the Dolphins who needed the victory for the final spot crumbled after being bowled out for 202 in their first innings on day 3.
Bowlers Beuran Hendricks (4/22) and Nandre Burger (3/66) did the damage to enforce the visitors to follow on.
The bowlers then put on another show as the Dolphins saw a quick collapse in their second innings.
Seven wickets for 39 runs from left-arm spinner Kyle Simmonds and two wickets from Burger sent Province to the final before tea on day 3.
Verreynne could not hold the excitement after the match as his side reached the second final of the season.
“Obviously really happy to get a win, I think more importantly getting to the final that’s been a big goal of ours for the last couple of seasons, to make it to the back end of a four-day competition successfully so we’re really, really happy with that,”.
“I think we won the toss and batted on, to be honest, quite a tough wicket and I think the way Daniel and Tony went up front there was an incredible partnership, Daniel getting 100 and then Gavin had played last week which was his first game back in the side for two years and to come out and then go 173 with his maiden first-class 100 was incredible to watch.
“I think the pitch got flat and we got a big total on the board and bowling became really difficult but the way our seamers performed, led by Beuran and Nandre with the new ball, it was incredible and then for Simmo [Kyle Simmonds], there wasn’t really a lot of turn on offer so for him to come in the last innings of a game and get a seven-for I think it’s incredible.
Having reached the second final of the season, Verreynne smiled saying it hasn’t sunk in yet.
“I don’t think it’s quite hit us yet, to be honest,” he smiled.
“For the last couple of years, we’ve been so focused on just making a final and then winning the one-day comp was almost a tick of a box and our season was a success already so to then push on and keep the standards that we’ve kept and to make it to another final.
“It’s incredible, hopefully, we can go there, put a good show on and get a win, that’ll be incredible but just to get to the final, it’s a massive achievement.”