Northerns ease to victory

North West completed a convincing 253-run win over Griqualand West at Potchefstroom, who collapsed to 160 all out in their second innings. North West batted on at the start of the day to allow Mohammad Akoojee to score his maiden first-class hundred. A target of 414 was always going to be trying for Griquas and when Goolam Bhayat reduced them to 35 for 4 the writing was on the wall.

Despite a face-saving 135 not out from Andre Seymore, Easterns could only set Northerns a target of 239, one they reached with eight wickets to spare. Fifties from Heino Kuhn, Johan Myburgh and Francois du Plessis were enough to see the more experienced team through.

Free State and Gauteng had to settle for a draw after rain stopped any possibility of play after the luncheon break. Gauteng had pushed their total to 227 for 3, still nine runs behind, by lunch with Stephen Cook scoring a hundred. With the heavens opening up the game was called off as a draw.

In the UCB Shield competition, Eastern Province turned the tables on Border by winning an exciting limited-overs match in Port Elizabeth. A disappointing 177 in 43.4 overs from Border allowed Eastern Province to pace themselves towards the win. Lyall Meyer was responsible for the low Border total after taking 4 for 33 in his nine overs. A slight hiccup was overcome as 13 runs were scored in the penultimate over to give them the win by three wickets.