Report Natal v Transvaal 9 November 1996 Benkenstein vindicated as Transvaal get skittled Colin Bryden at Kingsmead WHEN Ken Rutherford led a Transvaal charge to 42 for one in the first six overs at Kingsmead yesterday it seemed time to sit back and enjoy a typical limited overs run feast. The introduction of Shaun Pollock brought some discipline into the Natal bowling and the match underwent a dramatic transforma- tion. Transvaal were bowled out for 96 and Natal climbed off the bottom of the Standard Bank league with a four-wicket win, their first of the season. The result vindicated Dale Benkenstein`s decision to send Transvaal in on a muggy, overcast afternoon, although the young Natal skipper must have been worried when Rutherford was pounding Tertius Bosch and David Pryke in the early overs. Having failed to prevent Border from attaining a fourth innings target of 385 earlier in the week, Benkenstein must have wondered whether the prestige of captaincy was worth the anguish. Bosch was wayward and so was Pryke. Pollock, though not bowling at express pace, compensated by delivering a reliable line and length. Pryke took the cue and after conceding 19 runs in his first three overs, took two wickets for two runs in his next four. The crucial wicket was that of Rutherford, who miscued an at- tempted pull after hitting 36 off 38 balls. Neil McKenzie went first ball and the slide was on. Pollock chipped in with three wickets and Benkenstein, bowling gentle away swingers, also picked up three. Bosch, having conceded 23 runs off his first three overs, re- turned for a second spell in which he achieved lethal bounce off a good length as the Transvaal innings ran out of steam. Nic Pothas, seeking to succeed Dave Richardson as South Africa`s wicketkeeper, showed some of the incumbent`s tenacity but could score only 13 off 50 balls. Keith Forde equalled the Natal record by taking five catches behind the stumps, although his feat was a testimony to reliability rather than agility. The best catches were taken by Johnson, one at slip and a scorcher at backward point off a searing shot by Pothas, and Steyn, who held a skier running back from point. With Transvaal`s innings lasting only 31 overs, Natal were bat- ting before supper and the sprinkling of spectators could start thinking about getting home before the rugby Test came on televi- sion. As it happened, many did drift away, although the match took a long time to be decided as Natal struggled against tight bowling by Jacobs, Eksteen and Webster and genuine pace from the tall Wayne Kidwell. As is the wont of teams chasing low targets, Natal were exceed- ingly cautious in their quest. It was as though the Diwali fire- works which reverberated at intervals around the ground were ex- ploding from the pitch, which although requiring the batsmen to apply themselves did not seem as hazardous as the scores suggest- ed. Neil Johnson, who whipped the first ball of the innings unihibit- edly for four behind square leg, might have been prompted to war- iness by the fate of his opening partner, Doug Watson, in the same opening over from the lively Kidwell. With seven already on the board, including two wides, Watson received a juicy full toss on leg stump and flicked it powerfully to square leg, only to see McKenzie dive full length and hold a sensational catch. Whatever the cause, Johnson was rendered almost strokeless. He was dropped twice in the slips off the luckless Jacobs and strug- gled to 15 off 70 deliveries before Jacobs deservedly claimed his scalp. Errol Stewart, whose 33 off 82 balls seemed cavalier by comparis- on, fell to Kidwell, a tall fast bowler of genuine potential, who then had Bruyns caught at second slip and Pollock splendidly held at backward point by Bacher ith the four best bowlers having com- pleted their spells Zander de Bruyn claimed a wicket before Natal limped in. Contributed by Ros.Brodie (tcb@iafrica.com)