South Africa slumped to 271/9 at the end of day one in their warm upfixture against the West Indies Busta XI at the Everest Club in Georgetown,Guyana
MWP04-Mar-2001South Africa slumped to 271/9 at the end of day one in their warm upfixture against the West Indies Busta XI at the Everest Club in Georgetown,Guyana. The Busta XI is made up of the best of the region’s young playersnot representing Guyana and Jamaica in the Busta International Shield final.South Africa lost their last four wickets for just 51 runs whichincluded some big blows by number eleven Makhaya Ntini. SA’s first testagainst the West Indies begins Friday at the nearby Bourda ground.Mervyn Dillon made a successful comeback to competitive cricket aftermissing the end of the Australian tour through injury. His 18 overs costjust 31 runs and he took the wicket of SA’s topscorer Mark Boucher (56). Theleft arm spin pairing of Barbados’ Ryan Hinds (3/48 in 19) and the LeewardsIslands Sulieman Benn did the damage for the Busta XI as they shared fivewickets.Ntini’s cavalier cameo entertained the good crowd as he dropped to oneknee to smash 24 off just 14 balls. Of the top order batsmen, only Boucherplayed fluently and he made the young West Indies team regret dropping himon ten as he hit six boundaries and a massive six off the hard-working Bennwho finished with 2/77.SA openers Herschelle Gibbs (36) and Gary Kirsten (21) added exactly 50for the first wicket. Gibbs followed a fine lofted drive with a mistimed cutoff Benn while Kirsten pushed a drive to cover off the tight bowling ofKerry Jeremy. Jacques Kallis and Daryll Cullinan (20) added 58 for the thirdwicket before Cullinan was also caught at cover. Kallis struggled with histiming and batted just seven minutes short of three hours for 45. He took aheavy blow to the finger off Ricky Christopher. Kallis finally fell sweepingHinds. Lance Klusener hit four good boundaries in his 27 before he top edgeda pull off the accurate Ricky Christopher.The Leeward Islands pairing of Christopher and Kerry Jeremy sustained adisciplined line throughout the day and might have expected a better reward.Jeremy had Kirsten dropped by Daren Ganga in his first spell. He took 1/40in 15 overs while Christopher’s figures were 16 overs, 2/62.