Beukus runs riot for Free State

In Bloemfontein, Free State turned the tables on Border as they won by 60 runs. Jonathan Beukus got Free State off to a flyer, as he hit seven fours and two sixes in an innings of 90. Bowling 15 extra balls for wides and no-balls did not help the Border cause, but 223 should have been within their grasp. But they were always on the back foot as they lost six wickets for 79, and were eventually bowled out for 162. In the end, they just managed to save the bonus point as they fell 60 runs short.

A close encounter in Port Elizabeth saw Eastern Province squeeze out Western Province by seven runs, with the result in the balance up to the final over. Eastern Province, having batted first, had scored 219. They had come back from 96 for 6, thanks to 61 off 60 balls from Grant Howell, and 36 from Bob Homani. William Hantam, who was responsible for the early wickets, ended with 4 for 53. At 103 for 2, Western Province must have thought it was in the bag. But, with the exception of Warren Wyngaard who scored 73, no one could get into the twenties as the required run rate increased. Michael Price took advantage of some rash shots to pick up 3 for 25, and see Eastern Province home.

Having taken a severe beating in the three-day game, North West came back with a vengeance as they beat Griqualand West by seven wickets in Potchefstroom. Griquas put up a meagre 215 for 8 on a near-perfect batting strip. Adrian McLaren top scored with 55, but could not find a willing partner as the wickets fell at regular intervals. In reply North West. managed to put some decent partnerships together. The match culminated in an exciting final over, the 44th, where Juan le Roux needed five runs to go to his hundred, and North West only two to win the game. He finished it in style by lofting the ball well over deep wide midwicket for his maiden century.