Hermann heroics not enough as WP win

A career-best 90 from Rubin Hermann was not enough as the World Sport Betting Western Province clinched a narrow four-run victory over the Auto Investments North West Dragons at World Sport Betting Newlands in Cape Town on Wednesday evening.

The left-handed opener posted the highest individual total of the season so far, but it was not enough as the Dragons fell just short of their target of 189, ending on 184 for six in reply to Western Province’s 188 for seven after Senuran Muthusamy had won the toss and asked the home side to bat first.

Hermann struck nine boundaries and four maximums from just 54 deliveries and was instrumental in helping the Dragons get so close. Hermann was the early aggressor up front in the opening stand of 43 with Meeka-Eel Prince (8). The opening three overs bowled by Kyle Simmonds (3-0-11-2), Beuren Hendricks (4-0-28-2) and Wayne Parnell (4-0-52-1) went for next to nothing.

But once Hermann found his range, he forced Kyle Verreynne to take both Parnell and Hendricks out of the attack. Despite the loss of Prince’s wicket, clean-bowled by Simmonds, Hermann and Raynard van Tonder (34) took the game to WP.

The pair added 76 for the second wicket and were cruising to what seemed like an unlikely victory. With the Dragons on 119 for one, up stepped George Linde (4-0-38-1), having Van Tonder stumped by Verreynne after the right-hander had charged down the wicket. Confusion reigned as the umpires failed to raise the finger, with Verreynne throwing his helmet to the ground. The third umpire was called upon and with Van Tonder about a metre out of his crease, the finger went up.

The loss of Van Tonder did not deter the visitors as Hermann and Wihan Lubbe (20) added 25 for the third wicket before Hermann launched Mthiwekhaya Nabe (3-0-34-1) down towards long-on where Simmonds gratefully claimed the catch.

Hendricks then turned the game back towards the home side as he claimed the wickets of Lubbe, who struck a four and six from just 12 balls, and Migael Pretorius (0) off successive balls. The left-handed Lubbe found Abdullah Bayoumy on the mid-wicket fence while right-hander Pretorius found Eddie Moore in the same position.

Lesiba Ngoepe (2) was caught by Linde on the long-off fence off Parnell leaving the Dragons needing 29 off the final two overs. Hendricks conceded 10 off his final over while Parnell conceded 14 from the final six balls as Ruan de Swardt (16 not out) and Muthusamy (11 not out) fought till the bitter end.

Earlier, Jonathan Bird (42) and Verreynne (42) top-scored for the hosts in an innings that threatened to go beyond the 200-run mark. Despite the early loss of Tony de Zorzi (0), David Bedingham (26) and Bird restored parity with a stand of 47 for the second wicket.

The loss of Bedingham, trapped in front by De Swardt (4-0-23-3) did not deter the aggressive nature of the hosts as Bird and Verreynne added a further 48. The Dragons consistently pegged the home side back as WP lost wickets at crucial intervals.

Bird, fresh off an unbeaten half-century, found Muthusamy in the covers off Hlompo Modimokoane (3-0-30-1) after striking two fours and three maximums from 29 balls while Linde (9) lasted 12 deliveries. Verreynne struck one boundary and two sixes from 30 deliveries but then was caught at square-leg by Lubbe from the bowling of De Swardt.

Despite losing Mihlali Mpongwana for just six, Parnell (21), Bayoumy (12 not out) and Simmonds (9 not out) saw to it that Province posted an imposing total.

The victory sees WP go top of the table after three wins from three while the Dragons remain rooted to the foot of the table after three straight defeats. The Dragons next face the Tuskers on Friday while WP travel to Johannesburg to take on the DP World Lions on Sunday.

Western Province: Tony De Zorzi, David Bedingham, Jonathan Bird, Kyle Verreynne (capt, wk), George Linde, Wayne Parnell, Mihlali Mpongwana, Abdullah Bayoumy, Kyle Simmonds, Beuran Hendricks, Mthiwekhaya Nabe.

North West Dragons: Rubin Hermann, Meeka-Eel Prince, Raynard Van Tonder, Wihan Lubbe, Ruan De Swardt, Lesiba Ngoepe, Senuran Muthusamy, Migael Pretorius, Bamanye Xenxe, Caleb Seleka, Hlompo Modinokoane.