Eastern Province got off to a winning start in the 3-Day Provincial Cup, while the other three matches all ended in draws, with Western Province almost beating a spirited Easterns in an enthralling contest at Newlands.
Northerns 463-6 decl (Jonathan Vandiar 139, Leus du Plooy 104 not out, Neil Brand 92, Rubin Hermann 63; Thandolwethu Mnyaka 3-66) & 156-0 (Neil Brand 85, Gionne Koopman 70)
Free State 316 (Patrick Botha 108, Dilivio Ridgaard 52; Ruben Trumpelmann 3-36, Sammy Mofokeng 4-47, Gideon Peters 2-49)
Match drawn
Western Province 303 (Matthew Kleinveldt 109, Qaasim Adams 83; Ryan Cartwright 5-49, Matthew Arnold 3-64) & 297/4 decl (Jack Newby 132 retired not out, Andre Malan 52, George Linde 46 not out; Matthew Arnold 2-78)
Easterns 217 (Wesley Marshall 50; R Meyer 4-36, Andre Malan 2-33, Mpilo Njoloza 2-46) & 258-9 (Grant Thomson 108, Wesley Coulentianos 79; George Linde 3-76, Mpilo Njoloza 2-35, Justin Dill 2-42)
Match drawn
Eastern Province 274 (Tian Koekemoer 116, Matthew Breetzke 40, Solo Nqweni 53; Marco Jansen 5-53, Brady Barends 2-42, Craig Alexander 2-55) & 6-0
North West 87 (Brady Barends 25, Marco Jansen 23; Glenton Stuurman 5-24, Tian Koekemoer 3-16, Kelly Smuts 2-29) & 192 (Ruan Haasbroek 47, Kagiso Rapulana 29, Lesego Senokwane 25; Tian Koekemoer 6-48, Kelly Smuts 4-46)
Eastern Province won by 10 wickets
Border 130 (Jason Niemand 29; Tyron Koen 3-27, Smangaliso Nhlebela 2-13) & 126-5 (Jason Niemand 70; Keith Dudgeon 2-20)
KwaZulu-Natal 223 (Bradley Proteous 60, Blayde Capell 98; Phaphama Fojela 4-43, Clayton Bosch 2-40, Basheeru-Deen Walters 2-42)
Match drawn
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
