Boland take command after day two

Boland assumed control of their four-day Supersport Series match against North West in Paarl on Saturday, after taking an eight-run lead in the first innings.

At stumps on day two, North West were on 92 for five and in trouble.

But West Indian fast bowler Mark Lavine took a career best six for 53 for the visitors to at least give his side a semblance of a chance in the match.

If the North West top order could have responded in the same fashion Boland might be in for a contest, but as it is they are poised to take an important victory.

James Henderson scored a patient 86 for the hosts, although he was dropped at fine leg when his score was on 22. It was a missed chance that could have cost North West the match.

Boland resumed on 40 for three overnight and took the score to 76 before the fourth wicket fell. Justin Ontong edged a Garth Roe delivery down the leg side where wicketkeeper Ezra Poole took an accomplished diving catch.

The out of sorts Kenny Jackson made a miserable seven and virtually gave his wicket away when he edged Lavine to Poole, with footwork that looked like he had concrete boots on.

Steve Palframan showed some nice touches on his way to 31. He and Henderson were involved in a 49-run partnership for the sixth wicket that came to an end with a low skidding delivery from Lavine to Palframan.

He was so firmly in front of his stumps that the rare occurrence of a batsman walking before being given out, occurred.

Brad Player then joined the patient Henderson and the two put on 66-runs for the seventh wicket. Henderson unfortunately fell short of what would have been a deserved century just before tea.

A ball from Alphonso Thomas clipped the edge of his blade and went through to Poole, who snuffled the chance with little fuss. Henderson faced 271 balls and hit ten boundaries in his innings.

After tea Player fell to the Lavine-Poole combination for 31 and the rest followed in short succession. They did however, manage to push the Boland score eight runs beyond the North West first innings total of 216.

The North West top order were all back in the pavilion with the score on 21. Opener Andrew Lawson was run out for three, Glen Hewitt was caught at second slip for a duck and Hendrik de Vos was caught at third slip for 12.

Later Arno Jacobs edged one to Palframan off Player and with Martin Venter unable to bat because of a broken hand sustained on Friday, North West will do well to post Boland in excess of 150 to win the match.