Windies in Chatsworth

Much more important was the occasion with a crowd of more than 9 000 thoroughly enjoying the first major international match at the Chatsworth Oval. It was easily the biggest crowd of the season in KwaZulu-Natal, probably eclipsing the total number of spectators seen at Kingsmead so far.

The managing director of the United Cricket Board, Ali Bacher, was not slow to see the significance of this. In a lunchtime address in the media tent, he waxed lyrical about the occasion and promised that he would do his best to include Chatsworth as a venue in the 2003 World Cup as well as a ground where future touring teams such as Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan would play matches. For KZN's part, president Robbie Kurz said he would do all he could to introduce Standard Bank League matches to Chatsworth as soon as possible.

Obviously a big part of the day's success was attributable to the fact that the Chatsworth community itself ran most of the facilities at the ground. As a mark of what the locals could achieve, the day was a great, though qualified success and a considerable amount of civic pride was in order.

The other reason was the mixture of local players and stars playing in the game. Balanced with the appearance of Brian Lara, Carl Hooper, Andrew Hudson, Lance Klusener and Jonty Rhodes was the participation of Desigan Reddy, Ashraf Mall, Bongani Zibane and Mehmood Badat.

It was significant that at the end of the game, a large cluster of youngsters didn't shout for Lara or Rhodes but for Reddy to sign autographs. Never mind that ``Desi'' had been smashed for 34 runs in 3.3 overs. The fact was that he'd scored 18, featured in a partnership of 40 and taken two wickets - those of Clayton Lambert and Darren Ganga: a feat that the youngster will long remember.

That, in essence, is what the match was all about, and if games such as yesterday's become a regular feature at Chatsworth, the positive spinoffs for the development programme should be significant.

From a cricketing angle, the match was over as a contest as soon as Andrew Hudson was unfortunately run out by his partner Zibane. On a slow, low pitch with an even slower outfield, Hudson probably played the innings of the day, timing the ball with sublime skill. Although he only made 38, his drives and pulls were of the highest quality and made nonsense of the fact that he is not the best man to open South Africa's innings with Gary Kirsten.

Aside from Hudson, however, only the partnership of 40 for the eighth wicket between Robbie Macqueen and Reddy enabled the home side to reach three figures as Franklyn Rose and Nixon McLean shared six wickets between them with leg-spinner Rawl Lewis chipping in with a brace.

The West Indies' run chase was led by Man of the Match Clayton Lambert who smashed an exciting 58 off 63 balls with five fours and four sixes. He and a more sedate Junior Murray put on 100 for the first wicket, effectively clinching the contest.

Three quibbles: given the nature of the match, skipper Jonty Rhodes would have done better to field when he won the toss, assuring the crowd of a longer day's cricket and a better look at the West Indian stars. Secondly, Brian Lara might have come in first wicket down so that the crowd could at least have had a glimpse of a man many still see as a legendary talent. Finally, the 9.30am start was delayed for 45 minutes because the black sightscreen cloth had not been timeously put up.