WP toil as Bacher, Koenig fashion centuries

Gauteng openers Adam Bacher and Sven Koenig stormed into the new first class season with centuries apiece as Western Province wilted by the end of the first day of a three-day friendly at the Inanda Country Club on Monday.

At stumps on the first evening, Province were 47 for two in reply to Gauteng's 307 for one. Herschelle Gibbs, who is in the process of rehabilitating himself after his involvement in the Hansiegate affair, might have wondered whether it was all really worth it. He lasted just four balls in the Western Province before being bowled in David Terbrugge's first over for nought.

Gauteng captain Clive Eksteen claimed the other WP wicket to fall before the close, bowling Andrew Puttick for 21 with the batsman failing to offer a shot.

The day belonged, though, to Bacher and Koenig. Bacher, who last played Test cricket a little less than a year ago, took advantage of a good batting wicket to help himself to 106 before retiring. No fewer than 84 of his runs come from boundaries as helped Koenig add 176 for the first wicket before he decided to give his team-mates a chance at the crease.

Koenig, meanwhile, was a little more sedate in fashioning his 119, but Province were made to toil long and hard before Paul Adams took the visitors' first, and only wicket of the day with Gauteng on 272.