Johan Myburgh's ability to handle sub-standard sub-continental surfaces helped Northerns yesterday beat Free State at Springbok Park in Bloemfontein on a pitch described as "a shocker" by the coach, Peter Kirsten.

Still eligible for South Africa's under19 World Cup side for the tournament in Sri Lanka next month, the young batsman pulled together an innings of rare brilliance which enabled the Titans to snatch victory before lunch on the last day of their SuperSport Series Super Eights.

With the pitch resembling a minefield and Kirsten , a former Test batsman clearly dissatisfied with conditions he called "appalling" and "bad for the game," Myburgh's undefeated innings of 37 rescued the side from what had been a precarious 39 for seven in search of the target of 97 runs. Beating a side led by Hansie Cronje was tribute in itself, but it also showed the depth of character of a side which has bounced back from a poor run since the visit to Port Elizabeth to move to the middle of the log. But it needed an all-round team effort, topped by Myburgh's batting which pulled off a favourable result in totally unfavourable conditions.

"He went in and went for his strokes from the start," Kirsten said. "It was impressive: full of flair and just what we needed at a difficult time." Myburgh and Gerald Dros, who scored 27 before falling victim to Nick Boje's bowling, added what was an innings saving 35 for the eighth wicket and with Pierre Joubert steered the side home from a dodgy 74 for eight, taking the score to 99.

Kirsten though was far from impressed by the conditions, although there is no comment from Cronje on the subject who reached the 20s on both occasions, yet under the circumstances were worth at least 80. "We cannot allow this sort of thing to happen again," said Kirsten. "A win is a win, but you don't need pitches such as this. It is not good for the game and it does not produce a good game at all."

Although he did not say it, the term "shocker" indicates the man who has batted on some of the worst Asian sub-continent dirt heaps in his time, classified the pitch as sub-standard in nature. What the umpires report is likely to say is another matter.

Had the fast bowlers been collecting the wickets a pitch inspector would have been dispatched soon enough to Bloemfontein to check out the conditions. Because the spinners took the wickets, no matter how sub-standard the conditions, there is unlikely to be any criticism. Which shows there is something not quite right with the system.

As it is Free State got their selection wrong for the game. They went in with four seamers and a batting order which was going to battle after five in the order although it was Gerhard Brophy's innings of 50 in Fee State's second effort which at least gave them a sniff of victory.

It was the spin duo of Dirkie de Vos with career best analysis of 11 for 100 and Free State all-rounder Kosie Venter with nine for 78 who picked up 30 of the 38 wickets to fall.

There any number of turning points in this game, but the last wicket partnership of 72 on Saturday between Greg Smith and Joubert, and which gave Northerns a first innings lead of 55, played its role. "If I can only get the batsmen to bat like the lower-order we may be going somewhere," Kirsten grinned.

Northerns play Easterns in a day-night game at Willowmoore Park, Benoni on Thursday.

© 1999