North West in command after first day against Boland

North West held the edge after the first day of the four-day Supersport Series match against Boland in Paarl, on a day when 12 wickets fell and one batsman was hospitalised.

The visitors won the toss, elected to bat and scored 216 for nine. It was effectively all out as North West skipper Martin Venter went to hospital after being struck by a fearsome rising delivery from left-arm seamer Neil Carter.

The ball rose off a good length shortly after lunch with the captain on 44. Venter has severe damage to his hand and may have to undergo surgery. Carter was aggressive throughout the day and bowled for almost the entire session between lunch and tea. He finished with three for 50. His opening partner Charl Langeveldt continued his good form this season taking four for 48.

North West were unable to string any good partnerships together, although the final wicket stand between Alphonso Thomas (33) and Garth Roe (19 not out) yielded 50-runs. The same two batsmen put on 174-runs for the tenth wicket last week in the match against Griquas - a South African record.

Glen Hewitt scored 34 and batted beautifully after a shaky start, only to be thwarted by a sharp rising Langeveldt delivery outside the off-stump. Craig Light scored 31 with no other significant contributions from anyone else.

Boland, in response, were 40 for three at the close. West Indian Mark Lavine removed opener Jonathan Trott, leg before for five, and Louis Koen for a duck in the same over. Boland were struggling on seven for two, but a competent 33-run partnership between James Henderson and Pieter Barnard helped steady the innings.

With the last ball of the day's play, Lavine had Barnard trapped leg before for 19 to a delivery that appeared to have hit the bat. On Saturday Justin Ontong should make his way to the crease.