Western Province ended their first-class season, the last under the current structure, by claiming their 18th provincial title on Sunday (they have also shared the title three time). The victory over KwaZulu-Natal came as Charl Willoughby claimed the final wicket at 3pm on the last day of the match with 37 overs remaining.
The visitors were not without hope, going into the day needing another 219 with nine wickets in hand. A draw, which would have seen the trophy being shared, was also a strong possibility as the start was delayed by 50 minutes due to early-morning rain.
Willoughby made the early breakthrough, comprehensively dismissing Imraan Khan on his overnight score of 62. The Amla brothers saw them through to lunch on 167 for two, 40 runs having been added in the shortened session.
They did have some good fortune, as Ahmed was dropped by Neil Johnson off Claude Henderson’s second ball of the day, and Hashim was put down by Ashwell Prince on 70. The Western Province captain did make amends later, taking an excellent catch in the gulley to dismiss Lance Klusener.
Western Province took the new ball after the break, and Willoughby struck with the first delivery to dismiss Hashim Amla. Brother Ahmed also failed to add to his lunch score, but captain Dale Benkenstein and Jon Kent added 29 as the visitors tried to battle their way back into the match.
A brave leg-before-wicket decision by Muhammad Nanabhay effectively put paid to KwaZulu-Natal’s faint hopes. Benkenstein was struck on the front foot attempting a sweep.
Although hit low on the pad, he had taken a good stride forward. This wicket prompted a dramatic collapse as five wickets fell for 12 in the space of nine overs. Although Robbie MacQueen and Andrew Tweedie put up some resistance, forcing the tea break to be delayed, Willoughby once again came back to take the decisive wicket as Tweedie edged high to third slip.
The day may have belonged to the home side but it was Lance Klusener who received the Man-of-the-Match award for his excellent bowling, which earned him 12/160.
Even as the players celebrated in the dressing room, the dawn of a new era in South African cricket was symbolised by the changing of the advertising boards on the scoreboard. — Sapa