/ 24 October 1999

KIRSTEN TO MISS ZIM TESTS

SOUTH Africa’s opening batsman Gary Kirsten is almost certain to miss the two home and away Test matches against Zimbabwe, as his Western Province side had a bad day at the office in Paarl on Friday. At the close of the second day of their Supersport Series match against Boland, Province were 139 runs behind overall after being bundled out for just 137 in their first innings, thanks to a superb bowling and fielding display by Boland. At the close, Boland had scored 29 for one in their second innings. Kirsten sustained a compact fracture of the knuckle in his right little finger after a Charl Willoughby delivery arrived sooner than expected. After going on to score just five, Kirsten, went for X-Rays where a clean break was discovered. He will be out of action for at least a month.