There was no magic for Western Province-Boland (WP-Boland) as they suffered their third successive Supersport Series cricket defeat on Sunday, and that on their home ground.
The Eagles were always in control, with Boeta Dippenaar again instrumental in seeing them through.
At the end of the match, which came 24 minutes before tea, the talented WP-Boland batting line-up was left regretting its inability to contribute another 100 runs, which could easily have made all the difference on the last day.
Resuming with a slender lead of 96, overnight batsmen Con de Lange and Thami Tsolekile set out to occupy the crease on the last morning. They did so admirably until De Lange was caught in the slips in the last over before the first drinks break.
However, they failed to seize the initiative, only scoring 14 runs in as many overs. Still firmly in the driving seat, the Eagles put the boot in decisively, knocking over the last five wickets for 20 runs in less than 12 overs.
The prize wicket of Tsolekile came as he uppercut Roger Telemachus to third man. Telemachus and Deon Kruis each picked up two wickets, the former’s four wickets in the innings proving he is anything but a spent force.
Needing a modest target of 131 in a minimum of 76 overs, a required rate of 1,7 runs to the over, the Eagles were in early trouble.
Gerhardus Liebenberg was run out after finding himself stranded halfway down the pitch, and Davey Jacobs was caught behind off Charl Willoughby. Loots Bosman was out eight minutes after lunch, at which stage the visitors were in some trouble on 30 for three, still needing 101 runs.
Dippenaar was playing much more freely than in the first innings and his presence was standing between WP-Boland and a miraculous victory. His partnership of 79 for the fourth wicket with Morne van Wyk broke the back of the task.
Things might have been different had Andrew Puttick held on to a high chance offered by Van Wyk off Rory Kleinveldt with his score on 14 and the total on 63.
Any doubt was removed when Kleinveldt conceded 14 runs in the 26th over, including one steepling bouncer that eluded the wicketkeeper for five wides.
Even though Vernon Philander was rewarded with Van Wyk’s wicket and Ryan Bailey was also dismissed, it was too little too late and the Eagles cruised in with 40 overs still to be bowled.
Dippenaar was an obvious choice for man of the match, having spent more than nine hours at the crease during the match in scoring 177 runs.
The result leaves WP-Boland languishing at the bottom of the Supersport Series log, while the Eagles soar towards the top. — Sapa