North West struggle to hold on against Border

Border look certain to go into next week's Supersport Series final against Western Province at Newlands on the back of another healthy victory after reducing North West to 78 for five on Saturday in pursuit of a stiff target of 310.

But the most predictable thing about the North West batting this season has been its unpredictability and with Mark Lavine and Glen Hewitt at the crease and Alfonso Thomas, Ezra Poole and Garth Roe still to come, this is perhaps not a good one to bet the month's mortgage repayment on.

Nevertheless, Border are certainly in pole position, due in part to a three-wicket burst from Tyron Henderson and Vasbert Drakes that saw North West go from 35 without loss to 36 for three, but even more to Steven Pope's second Supersport Series ton in a week.

Pope added 102 for the sixth wicket with Laden Gamiet (39), who came to the crease with medium-pacer Francois van der Merwe having reduced the visitors to 138 for five, a lead of just 164, with the first five wickets. Pope made exactly 100 from 211 balls, including 13 boundaries, before becoming one of four victims for Thomas, who wrapped up the tail to finish with four for 76.

Lavine faced just 14 balls at the end of the third day, making 13 runs and risking being caught on the boundary when he hit one of his two fours, but he's still there with Hewitt (22) and if they can pick up from their 165-run stand in the first innings, things could get interesting on Sunday.

More likely, though, is that Lavine will learn the truth of the adage that those who live by the sword die by the sword.