Griqualand hold their nerve

Incisive spells from from Jandre Coetzee and Frikkie Holtzhausen helped Griqualand West dismiss North West for just 116 on Thursday at Potchefstroom. Despite an improved performance in their second innings - including a 78 from Thando Bula - their 216-run deficit in the first innings was too great to recover from, leaving Griqualand the simple target of 136. Alan Kruger made up for his failure in the first innings with a brisk 78 and, though they lost three wickets, Griqualand reached their target inside 30 overs to take 19.64 points.

Rivash Gobind's fine 127 - in a match heavily dominated by the ball - and five wickets Keagan Africa handed KwaZulu-Natal a comprehensive 247-run win over Border at Durban. Border were dismissed for a lowly 125 in their first innings but KwaZulu-Natal took the game by the scruff in their second innings, thanks to a blistering opening stand of 97 in 16 overs by Gobind and Warryn Hauptfleisch (59). KwaZulu-Natal declared on 314 for 4 before Africa blitzed Border with 5 for 23.

Eastern Province swept past Kei by an innings and 86 runs at the Old Grey Ground in Port Elizabeth, largely thanks to Juan Theron's 6 for 33 to dismiss Kei for just 105 in their first innings. Eastern Province's batsmen then mounted a strong reply, with Colin Ingram falling two short of his second first-class hundred before Michael Smith cracked a run-a-ball hundred. Smith, the captain, declared on 392 for 4 and, though Kei fared slightly better in their second innings - Andile Blom made 55 - they were dismissed for 201 inside 66 overs.

Bat dominated ball between Limpopo and Free State at Bloemfontein with the match ending in a draw. There were hundreds for Andrew Galloway and Dean Elgar, with Limpopo setting Free State 288 to win on the final day. They showed good intent, too, with a quick 54 from Lefa Mosena before running out of time.

A magnificent hundred from Morne van Wyk nearly pulled off an unlikely win for Eagles, chasing 333 to beat Lions at Johannesburg. Friedel de Wet removed the openers and Eagles were in deep trouble at 47 for 4, before van Wyk and Ryan Bailey (67) put on 152 for the fifth wicket. Bailey's wicket prompted a slide, however, and the lower-order put up little resistance as Lions dismissed them for 267.

A fine allround team performance from Titans beat Cape Cobras by 10 wickets at Benoni. Their first innings of 452 for 7 was anchored by a marvellous 190 from Martin van Jaarsveld before Maurice Aronstam's five wickets cut through the Cobras' batsmen, dismissing them for 172. They fared better following on, but could only set Titans 15 to win which they achieved in under three overs.

Warriors' batsmen couldn't quite put together enough sizeable partnerships on the final day against Dolphins at Buffalo Park, the match ending in a draw. Chasing 368 to win each of their top order had starts - Justin Kreusch made 47 and Arno Jacobs 62 - but Dolphins' bowlers kept making inroads. In taking their fifth wicket in the 78th over Dolphins were reasonably placed for victory but were upheld by a stodgy, fighting 70-ball 10 from Robin Peterson to deny them victory.

Umar Abrahams's 70 from 79 balls handed Eastern Province an easy 7-wicket win over Kei chasing 163. Province lost both their openers for ducks before Abrahams and Colin Ingram steadied their pursuit.

Griqualand crept past North West by 5 wickets in a thrilling match at Potchefstroom thanks to a fine 127 from Mohammad Akoojee, and brave resistance from the lower order. Akoojee seemed to have the match by the scruff in the 43rd over, but he fell to Riyaadh Bhayat leaving Griqualand to chase 13 from 8 balls. A four from Frikkie Holtzhausen cut down the required rate and they stole past North West off the final ball of the match.

Robert Frylinck's brisk 47 from 41 balls gave KwaZulu-Natal a comfortable victory over Border at Durban. Warryn Hauptfleisch struck a belligerent 96 at the top of the order and, though they lost a clutch of middle-order wickets, Frylinck and Yadene Singh - who smashed five fours in his 22-ball 26 - saw them home with ease.

Free State eased past Limpopo with a 7-wicket win at Bloemfontein after Mario Saliwa's three wickets restricted Limpopo to just 137. Free State lost three quick wickets in their chase but Andre de Lange steadied their nerves with a slick 53 from 57.