da pixbet： Thami Tsolekile lived up to his reputation as an international in themaking with a superb innings of 95 as Western Province assumed total controlof their Supersport Series clash against Easterns at Newlands on Sunday
Marcus Prior26-Nov-2000Thami Tsolekile lived up to his reputation as an international in themaking with a superb innings of 95 as Western Province assumed total controlof their Supersport Series clash against Easterns at Newlands on Sunday.By the end of day three, Easterns had slipped to 36-2 chasing animprobable target of 390 for victory.Tsolekile made the most of his promotion to number three and, resumingovernight without a run to his name, faced a total of 208 deliveries beforebeing bowled around his legs by left arm spinner Anthony Botha just fiveruns short of a maiden first class century.He struck nine fours but worked the ball into gaps at will to accumulate a steady flow of singles.Andrew Puttick added 39 to his first innings 153 not out while NeilJohnson (50) and Ashwell Prince (40*) took the game beyond Easterns’realistic reach with a run-a-ball stand of 79 for the fifth wicket.Eastern’s skipper Deon Jordaan used seven bowlers in his attempts tobreak through but the home side never showed a glimpse of indecision on apitch that has played superbly throughout the match so far.Worse was to come for Jordaan when he was given out on the stroke ofstumps, caught at slip, despite the ball appearing to have bounce of hisfoot off the bowling of WP vice captain Alan Dawson.Roger Telemachus made the initial incision into the Easterns battingwhen opener Ernie Mokoenenyane edged the SA seamer into Tsolekile’s glovesin the first over of the final innings.With both teams guaranteed a place in the ‘Super Eight’ section of theSupersport Series, a win would count as almost double for either side – whostand in first and second place in Pool B – although Easterns would happilysettle for a draw needing a daunting 354 runs on the final day at a rate ofnearly four and a half runs per over.