Washout in Bloemfontein spoils it for Free State and Strikers

Rain after tea on Monday ended the SuperSport Series match between Free State and the Highveld Strikers at Goodyear Park with the Highveld Strikers 47 runs ahead on 204 for five in their second innings.

The Strikers resumed their second innings on 23 without loss needing 134 to erase the deficit. They were never in danger of falling short of that goal, and once it was achieved all interest drained from the match.

Adam Bacher and Sven Koenig did most of the work towards ushering the Strikers into the black with a solid partnership of 81 for the first wicket. Andre Seymour and Zander de Bruyn then added 36 for the third wicket, before De Bruyn and Geoff Toyana took the visitors to 152 for four and safety.

De Bruyn ambled to an unbeaten 59 off 154 balls with 10 fours, while the day was also not wasted for Dewald Pretorius.

The lively Free State fast bowler singlehandedly dismissed Bacher, Koenig - both bowled - and Toyana, who he trapped in front, to finish with three for 23 off 12 overs.

Offspinner Kosie Venter, scorer of a fine 112 not out on Sunday, supported Pretorius well in his 26 overs, in which he earned two for 66.

But there was only one genuine candidate for the man-of-the-match award, and Herman Bakkes was duly awarded the prize for a brilliant bowling performance in the Highveld Strikers' first innings which brought him figures of six for 108.

Deservedly, Free State claimed six bonus points to the Gautengers' four.