OWN CORRESPONDENT, Maritzburg | Sunday 8.30PM.
IN the first major match in the newly-restored Maritzburg oval, upgraded for R7-million, Shaun Pollock’s SA Commonwealth side romped home against Kwa-Zulu Natal with 307 for five, winning their one-day limited overs match on Sunday by 40 runs.
Leading batsman on the South African side was Jacques Kallis, who — after lucky break early on when he was dropped — went on to score 106 off 131 balls, including nine fours. Dale Benkenstein was not out with 82 off 96 balls, including three fours. Particularly impressive was Herschelle Gibbs, back in first class cricket after missing the England tour, who scored a flamboyant 63 off 59 balls, including 13 boundaries.
On Natal’s side, Keith Forde was the most impressive batsman of the day, whacking 101 off just 71 balls, including three sixes and 15 fours. But in spite of Forde, ably backed by skipper Errol Stewart (45) and Andrew Hudson (41), the Natal side could not match the required run-rate of 6,8 runs per over, finishing on 267 for five.