Eddie Moore and George Linde scored brilliant centuries as they lifted WSB Western Province to 344-7 at stumps on the first day of their CSA 4-Day Series match against the Dafabet Warriors at WSB Newlands on Thursday.
Moore and Linde shared an outstanding 191-run sixth-wicket partnership as they rescued the home side from a disastrous start to the innings.
At the close of play, Western Province had George Linde (128*) and Beuran Hendricks (0*) in the middle.
STUMPS DAY 1 #WPcricket #westernprovince #WSBNewlands #WSBWP🧡 #BoysInBlue💙#WozaNawe #4DaySeries pic.twitter.com/9OK4ri1tTM
— Western Province Men (@WP_Blitz) November 14, 2024
Moore and Linde joined forces in the 15th over. Western Province were floundering on 33-5 at that point, thanks to inspired bowling spells from Duanne Olivier and Beyers Swanepoel.
The two bowlers bagged two wickets each in the first hour of play as the Warriors pushed Western Province onto the back foot.
However, despite watching the procession of wickets from one end, Moore remained resolute.
He faced 171 deliveries to reach his 18th first-class century. The opener was dropped on the second delivery of the day. He hadn't scored a run at the time.
The Boy In Blue 💯😍💙🔥. #WPcricket #westernprovince #WSBNewlands #WSBWP🧡 #BoysInBlue💙#WozaNawe #4DaySeries pic.twitter.com/wScq6Wpv2E
— Western Province Men (@WP_Blitz) November 14, 2024
The left-hander made the Warriors pay for giving him another chance by playing a chanceless innings from that point onwards.
The left-hander fell to Matthew Breetzke's part-time bowling. He was Breetzke's second first-class wicket.
Linde carried on from where Moore had left off. The allrounder survived a handful of scares, thanks to the visitors dropping catches.
The 32-year-old made the best of his second and third chances by registering a sixth first-class century. Linde faced 185 deliveries to reach the milestone.
Celebrations continue for George!!🏏🎆💯🥳#WPcricket #westernprovince #WSBNewlands #WSBWP🧡 #BoysInBlue💙#WozaNawe #4DaySeries pic.twitter.com/otsCkQPpSn
— Western Province Men (@WP_Blitz) November 14, 2024
Linde stood tall as he shared a 119-run seventh-wicket partnership with Kyle Simmonds.
Simmonds played a brilliant knock to register his sixth first-class half-century. Simmonds faced 66 balls to reach the 50-run mark.
He was dismissed for a brisk 68 off 78 balls.
Olivier was the pick of the bowlers for the Warriors with two wickets for 57 runs in 20 overs.
Swanepoel also bagged a brace but conceded 55 runs in 16 overs.
Matthew Breetzke, Jason Raubenheimer, and Siya Plaatjie took a wicket each.
WESTERN PROVINCE: Tony de Zorzi, Edward Moore, Mohammed Vallie, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), George Linde, Valentine Kitime, Kyle Simmonds, Beuran Hendricks (capt), Mthiwekhaya Nabe, Dane Paterson.
WARRIORS: Jordan Hermann, Jiveshan Pillay, Matthew Breetzke (capt), Matthew de Villiers, Sinethemba Qeshile (wk), Andile Mogakane, Senuran Muthusamy, Beyers Swanepoel, Duanne Olivier, Jason Raubenheimer, Siyabulela Plaatjie.