da gbg bet： In a match that had just about everything, including a RossVeenstra hat trick (he took 6-34 overall) against his oldprovince, the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins beat their traditionalrivals Gauteng by seven wickets with 14 balls to spare before 5500
Patrick Compton06-Mar-2000In a match that had just about everything, including a RossVeenstra hat trick (he took 6-34 overall) against his oldprovince, the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins beat their traditionalrivals Gauteng by seven wickets with 14 balls to spare before 5500 excited spectators at Kingsmead last night. The victory keptalive the Dolphins’ hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals ofthe Standard Bank Cup. Their last pool match, against EasternProvince in Port Elizabeth tomorrow, will settle the issue. ForGauteng, whose record-breaking run of eight consecutive victorieswas broken, the defeat was academic as they have alreadyqualified.The nature of last night’s match was determined by the verysimilar tempo of both innings. Both teams enjoyed a productivefirst 25 overs, then they both lost momentum.KwaZulu-Natal enjoyed an excellent opening partnership of 112between Doug Watson and Mark Bruyns chasing Gauteng’s score of197-8, but once Bruyns had departed, the scoring slowed as thesofter ball came on more slowly and made strokes more difficultto execute.First Jon Kent and then Watson perished trying to push the scorealong, and things suddenly began looking a little sticky for thehome team. It was at this crucial stage that the experience ofAndrew Hudson and a typically impish Jonty Rhodes came to therescue as the two veterans added a brisk 62 to see the Dolphinshome.Rhodes, in particular, looked full of confidence, playing twoastounding reverse sweeps off left-arm spinner Neil Fusedale whohad commanded a great deal of respect from the batsmen to thatpoint. The first, a full-blooded smash, went for a one-bouncefour backward of point; the second, to a fuller delivery, wasdelicately guided into the third man area for three. Earlier,Gauteng were looking odds on for a 240 total after skipper EldineBaptiste won the toss and put the visitors in to bat. This wasdue to the destructive Ken Rutherford who quickly announced hisarrival for what might be his last competitive innings atKingsmead, driving Baptiste for three fours in one over.On a superb pitch for batting, Rutherford – in sublime form – andAdam Bacher almost effortlessly added 91 in 111 balls for thesecond wicket without looking remotely troubled. However, aftergoing to an electrifying 50 in 47 balls, he contrived to miss astraight one from fifth bowler Mark Bruyns.But, after tenderising the Dolphins’ attack for what looked likea feast of runs, Gauteng failed to tuck in when it mattered. Manof the Match Veenstra, obviously, had a lot to do with it,bowling a double wicket-maiden that saw off Bacher (54) andGeoffrey Toyana at the beginning of his second spell. And then, atumultuous last over saw Zander de Bruyn, Nic Pothas and DeanLaing departing in consecutive balls as they slogged for glory.It was “The Moose’s” second hat trick against Gauteng, and itcouldn’t have come at a better time for his province.