KwaZulu-Natal stumble against Griqualand West

Griquas won the opening match of the limited overs Standard Bank Cup by six wickets with one ball to spare against KwaZulu-Natal in Kimberley on Wednesday night.

The victory was sealed on the back of a record 170-run partnership for the hosts between Grant Elliot and Peter Koortzen. Elliot scored 94 and Koortzen was unbeaten on 99, hitting the winning runs with a four off the penultimate ball of the match.

KwaZulu-Natal skipper Dale Benkenstein won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket that gave the bowlers little assistance. The visitors posted a very competitive 265 for five in their allotted 45 overs.

Opening batsman Doug Watson scored a well-paced 78 while all-rounder John Kent added a quick 62 off just 44 balls down the order.

But the hosts set about chasing the target with relish and kept their run rate at about five to the over until Elliot and Bosman accelerated the pace in the final eight overs with an onslaught that gave the KwaZulu-Natal bowling a very ordinary look.

Opener Willie Dry scored 35 to set up the match for the two youngsters to do the damage.

Elliot was trapped leg before in the 43rd over but by then the game was in reach of the hosts and the in-form Koortzen steered his side to a thrilling victory with the boundary, ironically off the best of the Dolphins bowlers Ross Veenstra.