OCTOBER 10: This is the second big match day of the Summer Spice series. The tri-series opener at 'The Wanderers' had set the trend, the batsmen of both the sides - South Africa and India - making close to 600 runs and Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and Gary Kirsten scoring their 17th, 30th and 11th one-day international centuries. The spectators at 'The Wanderers Bowl' could not have got a better deal.
In comparison to the first match, the one at the Super Sport Park, Centurion, was a disappointment, though a couple of Indian batsmen played poor shots and two more had appeared to have fallen to dubious catches claimed by Jacques Kallis (at second slip of Ganguly) and Lance Klusener (at mid wicket of Rahul Dravid). The Indians made less than 250 with Shaun Pollock taking five wickets.
The authorities in these parts of the cricketing world always try to get going some form of entertainment at the break, lunch or supper. About twenty months ago, the New South Wales Cricket Association paraded their all time greats in limousines during an India-Australia match in Sydney. Likewise the authorities at The Centurion paraded their present day cricketers who won a major championship last year. There was also a race for women and laser fireworks display after the end of the match and the prize distribution ceremony. All these events made it a wonderful day, but the South Africans,left the park with a tinge of disappointment as India had beaten South Africa by 41 runs on that Wednesday.
October 11: The Indian cricketers leave Johannesburg for another city. They had been in Sandton Sun for 18 days since their arrival in the country on September 24. They were happy to leave with a win against South Africa. Sourav Ganguly's team was in Bloemfontein to play Kenya, which had been trounced by South Africa in Benoni in the first of the day matches.
Former South African captain, Hansie Cronje, lived here, when he played for Free State and South Africa until the New Delhi police told the cricketing world that he was involved with betting syndicates. Cronje, now lives in George, one of the coastal towns in the South. He rarely makes a public appearance these days.
October 12: It is at Goodyear Park, Bloemfontein, a black South African, Solomon Mnetuyae, nicknamed 'justice' after his release from prison, saw his first cricket match. Solomon was put behind bars in 1973 because he killed his 'ally in robbery' with a heavy metal rod in Johannesburg. "I killed him because he refused to part with money. He refused to give me my share," said Solomon.
Solomon spent 27 years in about a dozen jails in South Africa and escaped death because the South African government annulled a 'Death by hanging' order of a superior court. His life was saved in 1975. After being released in January this year, he gets a temporary job with a company that handles a part of the ground advertising in cricket venues. "My boss told me, cricket is a soft game, not like, soccer or rugby or boxing. He bought me a ticket. I will support the better team," he trailed off.
Well to the Indian supporters it was a great day, with Ajit Agarkar and Anil Kumble taking four and three wickets each and bowling out Kenya for 90 and Virender Sehwag and Deep Dasgupta polishing off these runs in quick time and in very few overs.
October 13: The cricket caravan moves to Kimberley, not far from Bloemfontein; it's about an hour and a half drive, if the man at the wheel can push the speed to 140 kmph. It is a weekend match and with South Africa being one of the sides, tickets are sold out.
The De Beers Diamond Oval (it was known as the Kimberley Country Cricket Club) has changed a lot. The old, but spacious press box is still in place, but a new one has been created for the electronic media. A railway 'saloon like car' is also there in the West side of the dressing room. Those who have the time after a match, party here till late hours.
October 14: "This is a pitch for 600 runs. It's good for batting," said an official in the press box a few minutes before the commencement of the South Africa-Kenya match. He was not to be seen for the rest of the day. He was proved wrong by 140 runs, the Kenyans making 229, their best in the tri-series and South Africa making 230 for the loss of Gibbs' wicket for 70 runs.
The likes of Ravindu Shah, Maurice Odumbe and Thomas Odoyo hit some bold shots and make some runs for their side. But the real entertainment came from 200-odd boys and girls who swayed to the tunes of delightful numbers played by a local band. They receive allround applause from a goodly crowd.
Soon, the likes of Herschelle Gibbs, Boeta Dippenaar and Lance Klusener take charge and the day is made for the local cricket fans with South Africa coasting home by nine wickets.
October 15: The local newspapers run a story more about the Kenyan skipper, Maurice Odumbe, taking pot shots at one of the umpires Dave Orchard. Odumbe did not visualise he would be in trouble, inviting action from the International Cricket Council (ICC) Match Referee, Justice Ahmed Ebrahim, who was the ICC official at Indore when a match between India and Sri Lanka was abandoned because the pitch was said to be dangerous.
A laser fireworks display to entertain them at The Centurion.
Solomon Mnetuyae, who spent 27 years in jail and escaped the death sentence, now works for a company which handles a part of ground advertising at Bloemfontein.
One of the interesting headlines in the, 'Eastern Province Herald' as a result of the incidents at Kimberley the previous day is "Odumbe's underdogs face problem umpire again." But more than the umpire (Dave Orchard), it is the Kenyan captain who is in trouble having breached the Code of Conduct for players.
October 16: Maurice Odumbe is suspended for two matches of the Standard Bank tri-series. Odumbe is asked to appear for a disciplinary procedure meeting. He admits to having made certain remarks at the press conference and apologises for his misconduct. All this happened after Kenya's team manager, Mehmood Qaraishy suffered a heart attack. Qaraishy had played for East Africa in the 1975 World Cup.
The Kenyans defer their practice session to 6 p.m. and under lights. "We have not played a match under the lights for three years. Probably we helped the Free State Association to save on power at Bloemfontein," said Kenya's coach Sandeep Patil in jest.
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