PETROS AUGOUSTI, Johannesburg | Monday 9.00am.
GAUTENG mopped up a sorry Easterns tail dismissing them for a paltry 83 to take the honours and the points on the final morning of their SuperSport Series match at the Wanderers on Sunday.
The tail did not so much wag as fall off with David Terbrugge starting the rot early on enticing Dennis Smith to drive. He only succeeded in finding the edge and Nic Pothas took a simple catch. Terbrugge then took his third wicket of the innings trapping Hussin Manack square in front of his wickets.
The highlight of a predictable day’s play was a spectacular diving catch by Pothas to dismiss Pierre de Bruyn off Andrew Hall.
Spin twins Derek Crookes and Clive Eksteen then wrapped up proceedings leaving the players with enough time to make it home for Sunday lunch.
Easterns started the morning on 39 for five with the match all but lost after their top order once again failed to deliver. Captain Deon Jordaan was again top-scorer but this time with only 14.
Man of the match Kenny Benjamin lacked rhythm possibly suffering from the ill effects of jet lag after only touching down in the country on Tuesday.
The lanky Antiguan had a superb SuperSport Series debut finishing with match analysis of eight for 49.
Benjamin has already rekindled memories of cult quickie Sylvester Clarke and will hope to become a similar household name. Clarke menaced opposition and delighted fans with his aggressive bowling and the Wanderers faithful will be hoping that Benjamin can emulate his results and crowd-drawing abilities.
Gauteng consolidated their position at the top of Pool A earning 17 points from the match while Easterns cemented theirs at the bottom, earning only three bonus points.
Gauteng now take on Border at the Wanderers in a mouth-watering top of the table clash in their last SuperSport Series group match.
The top four teams in each pool will go through to a Super Eight stage in a format much like the World Cup played in England earlier this year. This basically means that points earned against group rivals are carried over into the next phase and teams higher on their respective logs earn vital home ground advantage.
The points Gauteng earned against Easterns are therefore meaningless with the Benoni-based team out of contention but the haul of 17 may yet prove significant in securing home-ground advantage. — MWP