da supremo： Rain wiped out a session and a half of the important Eastern Cape derbyclash between Eastern Province and Border at St George’s Park in PortElizabeth on Sunday
Craig Ray – MWP12-Nov-2000Rain wiped out a session and a half of the important Eastern Cape derbyclash between Eastern Province and Border at St George’s Park in PortElizabeth on Sunday.Both teams have lost all their matches in the Supersport Series so far,making a victory in this encounter vital for long term survival in thecompetition.When play was called-off at 4pm local time, Eastern Province were on 276 forsix, 222-runs ahead of Border with one day left in the match.Earlier Carl Bradfield and Justin Kemp resumed the day on 154 for three andcarried the score on to 187 before the first wicket fell.It was Kemp who became the third victim of West Indian paceman VasbertDrakes. He edged an awkward delivery to Pieter Strydom at slip who had tomake a running catch. Kemp scored 81 and shared in a 153-run fourth wicketstand with Bradfield.The opener became increasingly tied down after Kemp’s dismissal and hisinnings predictably ended with a rash shot as he tried to hit his way out oftrouble.Slow right-arm Strydom frustrated Bradfield who had been stuck on 91 fornearly half an hour. He eventually tried to drive the ball over extra-coveronly to hole out to Drakes who gratefully snapped up the chance. Bradfield’sinnings took 317 minutes and included 12 boundaries.Murray Creed (31) was the final wicket to fall in the day. Drakes was thebowler as he edged a fiery delivery to wicketkeeper Ian Mitchell who wasstanding in for the injured Mark Boucher.Boucher had hurt his index finger when fielding a Drakes ball down the legside before lunch, forcing South African keeper to head for hospital andprecautionary x-rays. No break was found but Boucher will not wear thegloves again in the match. South Africa play New Zealand in the first ofthree tests starting in Bloemfontein next week.At the crease when the day’s play was finally called off were ShafiekAbrahams (17) and Robin Peterson (22). Play will start a half an hourearlier on Monday to attempt to make up for lost time.