Duminy stars in Western Province win

Western Province-Boland 219 for 3 (Duminy 85*, Prince 55*) beat Titans 205 for 6 by 14 runs
Scorecard

Herschelle Gibbs managed just 4 in his comeback game © Getty Images

Western Province-Boland claimed victory in the final match in the preminary stages of Standard Bank Cup after winning the toss and batting against the Titans at Newlands. But it wasn't enough for them to progess any further in the competition.

Herschelle Gibbs, who had been recalled into the national team and hadn't played any competitive cricket since early November due to a finger injury, lasted just five balls before he was trapped leg-before for 4. Andrew Puttick's woeful season continued when he was caught in the slips for 16. Derrin Bassage and JP Duminy then put on an 82-run partnership with Bassage falling two short of back-to-back fifties. Duminy and Ashwell Prince continued the recovery with a 101-run partnership for Western Province Boland to end on 219 for 3 with Duminy scoring 85 and Prince 55.

The Titans' chase never got the impetus that it needed, with both openers out inside the first 10 overs. Martin van Jaarsveld struggled to 20 before Daryll Cullinan and Gerald Dros put on 86 for the fourth wicket. Cullinan was run out for 47, three balls after Alviro Petersen came out as a runner for him, and Dros fell for 41 off the very next ball flashing at a one outside the off. Albie Morkel smashed a six before top-edging to third man for 8.

With the game well out of reach, Kruger van Wyk (34 not out) and Alfonso Thomas (27 not out) decided to block out the final overs, taking the Titans to 205 for 6 and a second spot in the table. Despite the win, Western Province finished at the bottom of the pile at the end of the preliminary stages of the Standard Bank Cup.

The semi-finals, which will take place in February, are both day-night games. Eagles and Lions play each at Bloemfontein on the 17 Febrauary, and two days later Titans take Dolphins at Centurion. The final will be played at the homeground of whichever finalist finished with the most points in the preliminary stages.

Franchises now have a Christmas break before the recess before SuperSport Series, the four-day competition, resumes on January 6.