Western Province make brisk reply to Boland

There's plenty to play for at Newlands after this intriguing Supersport Series Super Eight match reached the halfway stage with Western Province 206 for three, still trailing visitors Boland by 192. Graeme Smith, who celebrated his 20th birthday on Thursday night, was still there at stumps on 79, he and Jacques Kallis sharing an aggressive stand worth 124 for the third wicket.

After Boland had laboured to 398 all out earlier in the day, the Province response was in stark contrast. Belligerent and purposeful, the home side scored at close to four an over, the rate only slowing as the spinners bowled out the day's allotted overs. It was a clear signal that captain HD Ackerman still believes his side can win this match.

Smith always looked like a good signing when he made his way down from Johannesburg to plough his first-class furrow on Cape Town. Although he has averaged only around 30, the promise has always been evident. On Friday the left-hander cut loose with 11 boundaries, and received welcome support from Kallis, only five years his senior, but light years more experienced out in the middle.

Kallis showed the Boland attack little mercy, driving with raw power and reaching his fifty with a six smashed back over the head of spinner Con de Lange. When he tried the same a few overs later, he missed and was stumped. There was just the faintest impression that the batsman had lost interest in a non-contest. It was too easy.

Earlier Jonathan Trott was out seven runs short of what would have been his maiden first-class century as Boland resumed on their overnight 274-4. Frustratingly for the youngster, he was run out by a sharp piece of work from Thami Tsolekile after a moment's hesitation.