Date-stamped : 23 Oct97 - 18:20 23 October 1997 Gibbs makes a point for WP LIAM DEL CARME, in Bloemfontein Several fielding lapses by the Free State Eagles and a gutsy unbeaten 110 from national squad discard Herschelle Gibbs were the main ingredients in Western Province's second consecutive Standard Bank League away victory of the season last night. WP were hardly at full throttle but they didn't have to be as they completed a six-wicket victory over their error-ridden hosts at Springbok Park. For much of the WP innings the match looked in the balance but once Gibbs and John Commins (42) tamed the Eagles attack the visitors reached their target with five balls to spare. Gibbs, a controversial omission from SA's tour to Pakistan, showed remarkable composure as he completed his second night-series century. He surpassed his previous best (101) and proceeded to steer his side to their target with the experienced Eric Simons (18 not out). Gibbs faced 131 balls and struck 13 fours in a charmed innings which Free State could have curtailed twice before he reached 50. He was dropped at point by Morne van Wyk on nine and found himself at the same end as Commins on 45 only to see the Eagles make a hash of their attempted run out. Commins also had a moment of good fortune. He was dropped by the luckless Van Wyk at midwicket on eight. WP looked in trouble on 58 for three but Gibbs and Commins stood firm as the Eagles' fielding deserted them. The pair added 107 in 76 minutes before Commins was brilliantly caught at short midwicket by a diving Nicky Boje. The former captain, as was the case in WP's previous away match against Griquas batted responsibly in his 67-ball stay. The WP innings hardly got off to a perfect start. On a pitch that proved batting friendly throughout the visitors made an inauspicious start. Lloyd Ferreira (1) played down the wrong line of a Chris-Jan Vorster delivery in the fourth over before former Free Stater Bradley Player clobbered a rapid-fire 22 off 26 balls. Player hoiked Wiaan Smit over the midwicket fence in the 12th over but when he attempted another he was caught in the deep by Vorster. Earlier, Free State had threatened to post an imposing total. Gerhardus Liebenberg (101), in particular, began aggressively and timed the ball sweetly inside the first 15 overs before curtailing his lavish strokeplay once the wickets started tumbling. He was severe on Dean Payne and Alan Dawson as Free State raced to 39 without loss after five overs. The innings, however, lost momentum once fellow opener Herman Bakkes was snapped up at square leg by HD Ackerman off Dawson. Liebenberg kept a cool head as the run rate plummeted. While the first five overs proved profitable for the home side, only 10 runs were yielded between the fifth and 10th overs. It was the defining passage in the Free State innings as the WP bowlers bogged the hosts down with disciplined bowling. All Material © copyright Independent Newspapers 1997. Contributed by the Western Province Cricket Association (wpca@cricinfo.com)