North West in control against Northerns

North West had put themselves in a commanding position by the end of the second day of their home encounter with Northerns, reducing the visitors to 152 for seven after piling up a first innings total of 327.

Garth Roe and Jan Dreyer grabbed two wickets each, but it was a team effort for North West, which sent Northerns reeling to finish 175 behind and still 26 runs off avoiding the follow-on. Northerns may be through to the Super Eight phase of the Supersport Series and North West still bidding to make absolutely sure of their passage, but the visitors will not want to lose the match as their hosts would carry the points from this encounter forward to the next stage.

Only opener Rudi Steyn, with 45, made much of an impression as the visitors' wickets tumbled on Saturday.

Earlier, Morne Strydom had been the mainstay of the home side's innings with an unbeaten 89, including 14 fours, made off 177 balls, but there were useful contributions from the middle order and the tail. Mark Lavine, 48 not out overnight, made only one further run, but then Craig Light made 47, Alfonso Thomas made 31 and his partner in a record-equalling 10th-wicket stand earlier this season, Garth Roe, made 21. Clearly they have been out to show that stand of 174 was not a flash in the pan.