Weather Denies South Africa Practice
By Paul Bakel
June 22 2003
South Africa missed out on an opportunity to put their bowlers and fielders to the test as a thunderstorm put paid to the tourists' one-day warm-up match against Northamptonshire.
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South Africa missed out on
an opportunity to put their bowlers and fielders to the test as a
thunderstorm put paid to the tourists' one-day warm-up match against
Northamptonshire. The Proteas, who tackle England in their NatWest Series opener at The
Oval on Saturday, only managed a modest-looking 229 for six. Northants were 45 for one from 15 overs in reply when the storm broke
at 4pm and no further cricket was possible. Graeme Smith opted to bat first after winning the toss, but it was hard
work for his men against a tidy home attack. Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis and Smith himself all missed out as
South Africa slipped to 70 for three against Damien Wright and Michael
Cawdron with the new ball on a two-paced track. It was left to Mark Boucher (69) and Shaun Pollock (53) to lead a
recovery, adding 105 in 23 overs for the fourth wicket with a mixture of
sensible strokeplay and urgent running. Boucher hit four fours in his 69-ball knock, while Pollock faced 77
deliveries and found the boundary three times. Both fell in quick succession to off-spinner Graeme Swann, leaving
Morne van Wyk to provide some useful late acceleration with three
boundaries in the final over. Van Wyk then shone in the field, producing a superb left-handed pick up
and throw to run out Phil Jaques for a duck in the first over of
Northants' reply. Mike Hussey and Mark Powell steadied the innings - Hussey cracking four
fours in an unbeaten 27 - before the rain came.
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