/ 8 April 2006

Northerns grind out advantage

Northerns ground out a significant advantage on the third day of the SAA Provincial Challenge final at Newlands on Saturday.

After dismissing Western Province early in the day’s play, they had worked their way to a lead of 180 with seven wickets in hand by the time bad light stopped play a few minutes before the scheduled close.

The home tail wagged briefly before Maurice Aronstam took the last two wickets in his 34th over, claiming the second five-wicket haul of his career. Mark de Stadler made his highest first class score before being stumped, and Quinton Friend hit one lusty blow before missing out on a second.

Facing a first innings deficit of 50, Francois du Plessis hit some crisp boundaries off Friend before getting a touch down the leg side. Aronstam and Johan Myburgh prevented any further breakthroughs before lunch, which was taken with the visitors already five runs ahead. Their partnership amounted to 49 before Aronstam, punishing some wayward bowling by Siraaj Conrad, hit the off-spinner straight down de Stadler’s throat at deep square leg.

The home bowlers toiled without success for the rest of the day.

Myburgh and the diminutive Kruger van Wyk grafted their way to a partnership of 104 off 220 balls.

Myburgh was undone by a splendid piece of fielding from Dominic Telo, throwing down the wicket from square leg as he was sent back. He had contributed 64 in just over three and a half hours (170 balls, 5 boundaries).

Allahudien Paleker played with great caution in partnership with van Wyk to see the visitors to the close without further loss.

It was slow going as Conrad and part-time leg-spinner Alisatair Gray concentrated on a line outside leg stump. At times up to seven fielders were stationed on the on side, and van Wyk countered with a series of well-executed reverse sweep shots. By the close he was just two runs shorth of his highest first class score, having already batted nearly four hours (153 balls, 6 fours).

Medium pacer de Stadler also bowled with his normal stinginess and the quicker bowlers were used sparingly on a hot day.

With one day remaining, both teams will be looking to force the issue as a draw will see the trophy shared. – Sapa