Eastern Province defeat North West to keep alive hope of reaching final

Eastern Province kept alive their faint hopes of making the final of the Supersport Series with a nine-wicket win over North West at St George's Park on Sunday.

North West scored 227 in their second innings which left the home team requiring a moderate score of 121 to claim victory in the first round of the Super Eight phase.

Eastern Province ended on 123 for one, with opener Mark Benfield unbeaten on 66.

North West resumed the final day on 83 for five and posted a useful total, which came thanks only to an 86-run 10th wicket stand between Alphonso Thomas and Jannie Dreyer.

It could have ended sooner but Nantie Hayward put down a routine catch with the total on 151 and Dreyer on three, which proved to be costly, but not terminal.

The home team scored the required runs with little fuss in 32.3 overs with Benfield and James Bryant (19) unbeaten after Benfield and Umar Abrahams had put on a brisk 81 for the first wicket.

Earlier in the match Justin Kemp scored a career-best 188, which turned the tide of a match seriously in danger of heading for a draw.

His brilliant innings included one over where he smashed hapless off-spinner Morne Strydom for five sixes in one over. It justifiably earned him the man of the match award.