OWN CORRESPONDENT, Bloemfontein | Monday 2.00pm.
SOUTH African captain Hansie Cronje handed down a warning to the West Indies just three days ahead of the first Test here on Monday when he led his Free State provincial side to a remarkable two wicket win over the tourists.
Cronje, who was unbeaten on 158, and fast bowler Johan van der Wath shared a provincial record ninth wicket partnership of 135 as Free State reached a target of 438 in the final innings – an extraordinary turnaround after they were bowled out for 67 in the first innings.
With Free State needing 26 on the final day, the West Indies claimed the second new ball at the start of play but Cronje and Van der Wath scored the runs off 40 balls. With two runs needed, Cronje, who hit 92 of his 158 in boundaries off 165 balls, was dropped by Ambrose at deep fine leg off McLean – two balls later Van der Wath scored the winning single.
The 20-year-old Van der Wath, who was playing in only his fourth first class match, had match figures of eight for 83 to make a strong claim for a permanent place in the Free State team. He only got his chance to play against the West Indies because Test fast bowler Allan Donald was rested. West Indies captain Brian Lara expressed concern about his team’s performance. “We seem to be able to play well for two days but not keep it up,” Lara said. Lara said he was less concerned about the result than his team’s inability to maintain the standard that they showed when bowling out Free State for 67 in the first innings. He revealed that legspinner Dinanath Ramnarine, the only specialist spin bowler in the squad, was suffering from a shoulder injury and was a doubtful starter for the first Test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
Ramnarine had been hammered by Cronje on Sunday evening when Lara was forced to use his spinners in poor light in an attempt to finish off what had seemed likely to be an easy win for the tourists. –AFP