Depleted Gauteng too much for Northerns
Even without most of their more experienced players, Gauteng carried too many guns for Northerns in the Standard Bank Cup fixture at the Wanderers on Wednesday night.
They achieved a 16-run win through contributions from their batsmen, bowlers and, at key moments, in the field.
Gauteng took full advantage of the decision by Northerns captain Neil McKenzie to put them in, scoring 243/6, before restricting the visitors to 227/9, despite a spirited seventh-wicket partnership of 95 in 94 balls between McKenzie and Pierre Joubert.
Adam Bacher, deputising for regular captain Clive Eksteen, who is touring India with Daryll Cullinan in the national side, blazed away from the opening over of the match.
With hard-hitting fellow opener Andrew Hall playing an unfamiliar supporting role, Gauteng raced to 47 in the 12th over before a stinging Bacher drive was plucked out of the air by Gerald Dros at silly mid-off.
Hall was joined by veteran New Zealander Ken Rutherford, who took over where Bacher had left off.
The pair kept the pressure on Northerns with an entertaining 118-run partnership off just 115 balls.
It was vintage Rutherford as he pulled, drove and cut his way to his 13th half-century in the domestic competition. When he departed for 71 (off 65 balls and with eight fours), Gauteng looked set for a score on the north side of 250.
Hall, however, went immediately afterwards, for a responsible 50, and the momentum was maintained through Derek Crookes, with 28 off 30 balls.
Impressive Zander de Bruyn scored 26 off 15 balls with one four and two sixes (both coming in a single over in which he pummelled Rudi Bryson for 20 runs).
Gauteng fell just short of what would have been a very imposing total.
Steve Elworthy had bowled well, taking a wicket and conceding just 31 runs in his nine overs, but the remainder of the Northerns attack was expensive and Gauteng's score proved just beyond the visitors' reach.
They started the chase brightly enough, but the introduction of Justin Engelke (in for West Indian Kenny Benjamin, who was being given a well-deserved rest) and the frustratingly accurate spin combination of Derek Crookes and Neil Fusedale put the brakes on their charge.
Rutherford took a sensational catch in the gully to get rid of potential dangerman Mike Rindel and although Northerns were always in with a shout while McKenzie was at the wicket, Engelke refused to give them anything to hit.
He did go for a few towards the end of his spell, but he was generally impressively tight and his 3/24 was reward enough for some superb swing bowling.
After slumping to 110/6, largely the result of Engelke's efforts, McKenzie (76) and Joubert (50 not out) battled gallantly.
However, their efforts were in vain as Hall finished with a career-best 4/58 and Gauteng maintain their challenge for a semifinal spot in the competition.