A sporting declaration after another sensational batting display by Western Province, and an extraordinary chase by North West reminiscent of the three-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton, characterized the seven-wicket win by the visitors at PPC Newlands.
A remarkable feature of the Three-day Sunfoil 3-Day Cup match between Western Province and the Potchefstroom-based visitors was that three brothers, Pieter Malan, Janneman Malan and André Malan, posted centuries in the same match.
Province struck 215 for one on Saturday at PPC Newlands and threw down the gauntlet. North West gleefully accepted the bait. They hammered 354 for three to reach the target of 351, set by a sporting Western Province on a flat pitch, in the penultimate over on the final day on Saturday.
Although Province’s gamble back-fired, they still emerged with their collective heads held high, as they are handsome leaders in Group A.
Pieter Malan described the centuries by his two brothers from North West, Janneman and André, as excellent performances. Yet, he also saluted the adventurous approach which has made Western Province the runaway log leaders on 72.58, more than 27 points ahead of second placed North West on 44.76.
“We could have terminated this match as a contest. We could have occupied the crease for another two hours, posted 500 and allowed them 50 overs in which to achieve it. They would have scratched around for 30 and we would have seen the inevitable shake of the hands thereafter as the game fizzled out to a dull draw.
“But that is not our approach. We have been attacking by nature and that is why we have won three matches this season. If we had taken three early wickets, things might have been very different,” said Pieter Malan.
“We did not hit the right areas consistently enough,” Malan added.
Faiek Daids, the coach, agreed. “We did not build pressure by bowling maidens. We bowled three good balls in an over and then strayed. It was difficult, because it was a flat pitch, but pressure creates opportunities to take wickets.”
Davids was full of admiration for the 166 amassed by SA Engelbrecht in his final match as one of the best centuries he had seen from the retiring captain. He struck 29 boundaries in his 203-ball 166.
“It was rare to see three Malans struck centuries,” he added.
Janneman Malan hammered 135 off 158 balls and took the game away from Western Province with an adventurous approach. His brother, André, came to the crease and rotated the strike, allowing his brother to attack relentlessly.
When Janneman departed, the other Malan-sibling accelerated and finished off the game, blasting 103 off 106 balls with seven fours and two sixes.
Davids was not dejected by the loss. He was immensely proud of the batsmen who smashed 354 for seven and 215 for one, and who have assembled 22.58 batting bonus points this season. It is the best by any province in the Sunfoil 3-Day Cup.
“Our bowling let us down yesterday as well in the CSA One Day Cup-performance. After 75 overs in North West’s second innings, we were flat and they scored 318 for eight,” he said.
Davids applauded the improved timing by Andrew Puttick, who assembled a brisk 101 off 98 balls in the one-day match. North West sealed it by 70 runs.