WP take Supersport Series title with crushing win over Border

Western Province claimed the Supersport Series title with a convincing innings and 26-run win over the Border Bears at Newlands on Saturday.

It was the 21st time the province has won South Africa's first-class title and sadly for Border the third consecutive year that they have lost in the final.

It was a match that was dominated by the hosts, who lost the toss but still managed to dismiss Border for 252. On the Newlands pitch, that was at least 100-runs shy of what they required and so it proved as Western Province piled on the runs in their reply.

They amassed 469 with Graeme Smith scoring a brilliant 183, which earned him the man of the match award.

Play resumed on Saturday - the fourth day - with the hosts on 446 for seven. Border off spinner Geoff Love captured the three remaining wickets to finish with career-best figures of seven for 116.

But by scoring 469, Western Province led by 217-runs and from that position only something out of India might have tilted the match back the way of the Bears.

As it was, opener Laden Gamiet fought a lone battle against Western Province as wickets tumbled around him at frequent intervals.

Gamiet top-scored with 80 but besides a 52-run second wicket stand with Steven Pope, none of his teammates was able to support him. Gamiet's innings ended with a rash shot at the slow left-arm of Claude Henderson, which was caught at backward point by Andrew Puttick.

Henderson finished with five for 65 from 19 overs, while the seamers Charl Willoughby, Alan Dawson and Roger Telemachus took the other five between them.

With the light beginning to fade, Border were unable to hold on and were dismissed for 191 in the 66th over to hand victory to the favourites.

What made the win more impressive was that Western Province finished bottom of the Supersport Series log last season. The turnaround has been nothing short of phenomenal.