da pinnacle： The Natal bowling attack will have to show significant improvement in theircrucial Super Eight match against Border in East London from Friday if DaleBenkenstein’s team are to achieve their aim of reaching the SuperSportSeries final
da lvbet： Ken Borland07-Jan-2000The Natal bowling attack will have to show significant improvement in theircrucial Super Eight match against Border in East London from Friday if DaleBenkenstein’s team are to achieve their aim of reaching the SuperSportSeries final.After the wonderful display of their top-order batsmen in the day/nightmatch against Free State, most of the Natal bowlers seemed intent on handingthe game to the visitors as they just refused to realise that their manyshort-pitched deliveries were only helping the batsmen accumulate runs intheir ultimately vain pursuit of a big score of 223.Gary Gilder and Eldine Baptiste were most at fault and they will be keen torectify matters as they have key roles to play in the Natal attack thisweekend.Border, SuperSport Series finalists last season and seven points ahead ofNatal with a game in hand, have once again built their victories aroundtheir pace attack. In Makhaya Ntini and Vasbert Drakes, they have twotop-class fast bowlers, while Tyron Henderson, although not enjoying quiteas much success as last season, remains a wonderfully watchable practitionerof the arts of swing and seam.After his unfortunate brush with the law, the reinstated Ntini will beparticularly keen to impress. He seems to be bowling every bit as quickly ashe was before he was frozen out of cricket, although his control in recentgames has been a problem.The Border batting has also been impressive this season, with captain PieterStrydom in magnificent form and leading the way.The 30-year-old has enjoyed the season of his life, strolling to the top ofthe first-class averages with two centuries and five fifties in his tally of581 runs at an average of 83, which has also elevated him to the nationalsquad.Wayne Wiblin is one of the domestic game’s most destructive batsmen and willcertainly make a meal of the Natal attack if they dish up the same fare asthey did against Free State, while the likes of Steven Pope and Ian Mitchellhave shown their talent at this level too.The do-or-die nature of the game for Natal will ensure plenty of excitementthroughout the four days at Buffalo Park. Lying in third position, Natalmust win both of their last two games ‘this weekend’s and next weekend’sagainst Northerns at home’ to make the final and will have a tough taskwithout their internationals (Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener and JontyRhodes).Natal were superior to their opposition in most facets of the game in theirlast outing ‘Benkenstein and Andrew Hudson batting with tremendous flairand then both pulling off spectacular catches (as did wicketkeeper ErrolStewart)’ but the bowlers will need to pull their socks up if the Dolphinsare to maintain their interest in lifting the cup at the end of the season.Dismissing Border within 100 overs for a full haul of bonus bowling pointswould be a good start.Squads:Border:Piet Botha, Justin Kreusch, Wayne Wiblin, Pieter Strydom (capt),Laden Gamiet, Steven Pope, Ian Mitchell, Vasbert Drakes, Geoff Love, TyronHenderson, Makhaya Ntini, Malibongwe Maketa.Natal:Doug Watson, Mark Bruyns, Andrew Hudson, Dale Benkenstein (capt),Errol Stewart, Ahmed Amla, Jon Kent, Kevin Pietersen, Eldine Baptiste, RossVeenstra, Gary Gilder, Wade Wingfield.
