IT’S advantage Western Province following the opening day of their Four-Day Series Cape derby against Boland at Newlands yesterday.
And it’s all thanks to opening batter Tony de Zorzi, who was in gevaarlike form on his way to 141 off 204 balls against their visitors from Paarl.
The lefty klapped a total of 16 fours to help his team to a stewige 373/3 when stumps were called last night.
De Zorzi made good use of the opportunity to bat first, after his captain Kyle Verreynne won the toss and decided to ask for guard first.
Boland’s veteran spinner Shaun von Berg, 38, ultimately brought De Zorzi’s innings to an end, when he had the Proteas opener caught at mid-on by Ayabulela Gqamane after misting a shot.
Von Berg (2/58) was also responsible for taking the wicket of Province’s other danger man Eddie Moore, who scored 75 off 112 balls in an innings that included three sixes and six fours.
While they departed in the space of four overs after sharing a helse 164-run partnership for the second wicket, WP’s batters weren’t done dominating just yet.
Their wickets brought Proteas Verreynne and David Bedingham to the crease.
Together they brought up an unbroken partnership of 121, with Bedingham (64 not out) and Verreynne (61 not out).