MICHAEL FINCH, Kimberley | Monday 9.00am.
THANKS to two whirlwind innings’ from Hansie Cronje and Nicky Boje, Free State finally got the better of the plucky North West side to win their Supersport Series match by four wickets in Potchefstroom on Sunday.
Cronje scored 44 off 40 balls (5×4, 1×6) and Boje 76 off 67 balls (10×4) as Free State, after a shaky start, reached a challenging victory target of 238 with 9.2 overs to spare.
It was Free State’s first victory of the season after two draws, while North West now have one loss and one draw in two starts.
But Free State may admit that had it not been for an injury to key North West seamer David Pryke — he injured his knee during the first innings — the Potchefstroom side may well have pulled off a surprise.
North West started the day on 203 for six overnight — an overall lead 164 — with every chance of making a game of it.
And thanks to a healthy wag of the tail by Mark Lavine (30), Ezra Poole (26) and number 11 Jannie Dreyer (21), the hosts finally ended on 276 all out.
That gave Free State a target of 237 to win off 63 overs — a testing run rate of 3.7 to the over.
By tea, the visitors were already lagging behind at 82 for two after 24 overs before a spell by offspinner Morne Strydom effectively swung the match Free State’s way.
Strydom was kept on for four overs conceeding 35 as Cronje made merry. It was the perfect platform for Boje who, with the wind in his sails, finished off the job in style. — MWP