Johnson leads the way for Western Province

Western Province 177 for 1 (Johnson 104*, Puttick 59) beat North West 173 for 8 (De Vos 52*, Kleinveld 3-26) by 9 wickets.
Scorecard
Points Table

After batting first on a uncharacteristically slow Potchefstroom pitch, North West never came to grips with the conditions or the disciplined bowling from the Western Province strike force, slumping to 50 for 6 in an undisciplined display of batting.

It required an unbeaten half-century from the captain Dirk de Vos, and a pair of career-best performances from the tail, to steady the sinking ship. Vos added 49 with Werner Coetsee, who made 26, then added 52 for the ninth wicket with Garth Roe, 34 not out, to give their bowlers something to bowl at.

Rory Kleinveld once again impressed with his awayswing, taking a career best 3 for 26. Except for a slight lapse in concentration during the last 15 overs, from which 93 runs came, the Western Province bowlers generally kept a tight line throughout the innings.

Patience was the name of the game for Andrew Puttick and Johnson. At first they found it difficult as they worked hard to become accustomed to the pitch. After that it was plain sailing with Johnson, dropped twice in the fifties, going to a well-deserved hundred after Puttick had fallen for 59.

The target of 174 was reached with 11 overs to spare.