SuperSport Series: Northerns look to lift log spot
Trevor Chesterfield
26 November 1998
Languishing in the lower regions of the A Section is not quite Peter
Kirsten's idea of where Northerns should be placed at this stage of
the season.
After all a side which has a remarkable limited-overs record but has
struggled to maintain a consistent performance in the SuperSport
Series in recent summers is not the image the Titans want to
present. But Kirsten hopes this will be corrected over the next four
days during the replayh against Boland.
Having been moved from Paarl to Centurion because of the pitch problem
which caused the abandonment of the previous game, Northerns are
confident they can collect a victory as well as eight bonus points. It
may seem a lot to ask a side who have battled to put big first innings
totals together in the first two A Sectiongames.
But Kirsten has worked hard on this aspect of the game in a bid to
overcome the problems and the psychological areas caused by an
inability to handle the pressue against what was average bowling
attacks in the fisrt two games. No dout this remark is likely to cause
the odd eyebrow to be raised, but without Vasbert Drakes, Border have,
despite their current top log position, not impressed when under
pressure.
Border's true test is yet to come when they play Gauteng, whose
inventive captain, Ken Rutherford, has a far better idea of how to
handle upstart sides from the Eastern Cape.
What is as yet undedcided is whether Quentin Still is going to catch a
game against Boland. The 22-year-old all-rounder has been close to
selection a couple of times before and chances are he may open with
Rudolf Steyn moving down the order. The problem is who to leave out of
the 12. A far from easy choice.
As for Boland they arrive propping up the log with Natal and have not
made too much of an impression this sesaon under the leadership of Ken
Jackson. Despite all the hard efforts of Hylton Ackerman to get the
best of of the side, they have had the sort of start they would prefer
to forget.
Teams
Northerns: Rudolf Steyn, Mike Rindel, Deon Jordaan, Martin van
Jaarsveld, Gerlad Dros (capt), Dirkie de Vos, Quentin Still, Pierre de
Bruyn, Grant Morgan, Steve Elworthy, Greg Smith, David Townsend.
Boland: Evert Ferreira, James Henderson, Juston Ontong, Kenny
Jackson (capt), Sean Ackermann, Doug Gain, Steve Palframan, Donovan
Koch, James Albanie, Henry Williams, Charl Willoughby, Jacques van
Wyk.
Umpires: Dave Orchard and Wilf Diedricks.
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