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Day 1: Paterson helps Province to dominate first day of 4-Day Series final

rugby28 February 2024 16:39| © MWP
By:Patrick Compton
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Paceman Dane Paterson claimed 5-31 – his 21st five-wicket haul – to help Western Province dominate the first day of the CSA 4-Day Series final against the DP World Lions at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

At stumps Province openers Edward Moore and Tony de Zorzi had raced to 49 without loss in nine overs in their reply after dismissing the Lions for a meagre 225 midway through the final session.

The visitors are currently 176 in arrears with all their wickets in hand.

The tide flowed strongly in the visitors’ favour from the moment that their captain, Kyle Verreynne, won a vital toss under grey skies on a moist pitch with plenty of patches of fresh green grass.

The pace bowlers took full advantage of the helpful conditions, reducing the Lions to 35 for five and 112 for seven before the home team recovered somewhat to go past the 200 mark.

Nevertheless, Moore (35) and De Zorzi (12) found themselves batting in completely different circumstances in the evening sunshine on a dried-out pitch and they took full advantage of some errant bowling to get their team off to an excellent start.

Province will certainly feel that they have the opportunity tomorrow to underline their advantage with the bat and give themselves a massive head start in the match.

After Verreynne opted to bowl first in the gloom with the floodlights on to get play started, Paterson struck in his third over, taking the wickets of Joshua Richards (leg before) and Zubayr Hamza in consecutive deliveries.

Richards played around a straight one and Hamza was at fault for chasing a full, wide delivery, edging a comfortable catch to Beuran Hendricks at third slip.

Temba Bavuma was the next to go, edging his second ball from Paterson to Verreynne who took a fine catch, diving to his right.

Next over Beuran Hendricks got on the board, getting some sharp lift to find the edge of Dominic Hendricks’s bat to give Verreynne his second catch.

POTGIETER RESCUES LIONS

Paterson retired from the fray with the remarkable figures of 6-5-1-3, but second change bowler Mihlali Mpongwana carried on the good work shortly before lunch when Ryan Rickelton slashed him to Gavin Kaplan at gully who took a good catch, high above his head.

As the pitch dried and the sun began to peep through the clouds, Wiaan Mulder and Delano Potgieter began to settle in.

Both men played some fine cover drives as they added 77 in 129 balls for the sixth wicket either side of lunch.

Just as the Lions threatened a major partnership, a change of bowling midway through the afternoon session resulted in two wickets in four balls for Mpongwane.

The gangly medium-pacer had Mulder caught driving at slip before having Bjorn Fortuin caught by Verreynne prodding at an outswinger.

Fortuin was initially disinclined to go but was eventually encouraged to head off to the pavilion.

Mulder, who looked rock solid, struck five fours in his 41 in 98 balls.

Thereafter, Potgieter played splendidly to be the Lions’ flagbearer. He eventually became Paterson’s fourth victim when he edged a shorter delivery to Verreynne who took four catches in all.

The powerful left-hander struck 11 fours and a six in his free-flowing 81 in 106 balls.

The Lions’ tail also wagged, as conditions got easier with Yusuf and Malusi Siboto striking 34 and 32 respectively.

Mpongwana provided excellent support for Paterson, claiming 4-41, but there were concerns over the fitness of Beuran Hendricks who was forced to leave the field with what looked like an injury late in the afternoon.

LIONS: Joshua Richards, Dominic Hendricks (capt), Zubayr Hamza, Temba Bavuma, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Delano Potgieter, Bjorn Fortuin, Codi Yusuf, Malusi Siboto, Tshepo Moreki

WESTERN PROVINCE: Tony de Zorzi, Edward Moore, Yaseen Vallie, Gavin Kaplan, Kyle Verreynne (capt, wk), Daniel Smith, Mihlali Mpongwana, Kyle Simmonds, Beuran Hendricks, Dane Paterson, Mthiwekhaya Nabe

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