Ferreira's century steadies shaky Province innings

An unbeaten century from Western Province's Lloyd Ferreira overhauled their disastrous start to the innings, leaving them only 59 runs behind North West at the close of play on Friday.

Province were on 268 for the loss of five wickets at stumps and chasing North West's 330 all out in their Supersport Series Super Eight clash.

But at 36 for three, the visitors looked set for another upset of the likes of their defeat by the Dragons in the Standard Bank Cup. However, Ferreira and Ashwell Prince steadied the innings with a 65-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Ferreira then combined with Neil Johnson to bring the visitors right back into the game with a 163-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Johnson was dismissed on 76, but Ferreira finished the day unbeaten on 120, coming off 190 balls and featuring 18 fours.

Earlier in the day, the Dragons resumed on 282 for seven and relished the conclusion of their record eighth-wicket partnership.

Morne Strydom and Alfonso Thomas continued to build on their unbeaten 195-run partnership on the first day, climbing to 204 on Friday. Their record provincial partnership falls only 18 runs short of the South African record.

The home team were bowled out just after lunch, with Thomas unbeaten on 95, hitting 12 fours off the 330 balls he faced.

Thomas also played a part in a niggling 34-run partnership lower down the order. Strydom was only able to add three more runs to his overnight score.