There wouldn't have been too many people betting on an outright result between Western Province and North West at the North West Stadium in Potchefstroom on Saturday morning, given that the second innings of the match was still in progress, but some time before 6pm, that was exactly what transpired.

Not that the home faithful would have been pleased. They had just seen their team fold for 126 in their second knock to lose by an innings and seven runs, with left-arm paceman Charl Willoughby and left-arm spinner Claude Henderson each taking three wickets.

What was so amazing about the outcome was that Province had started the third day still 62 runs behind North West's first innings total of 330, with five wickets standing. The overnight tally of 268/5 was largely based on the 163 added by Lloyd Ferreira and Neil Johnson for the fifth wicket and on Saturday, it was another partnership involving Ferreira that swung the game Province's way.

He and wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile took their overnight stand of four to 171, a partnership fashioned in just 35.4 overs, before both were out with the total on 435. Tsolekile made 78 off 115 balls, including 12 fours, while Ferreira, who had made 120 off 190 balls on Friday, faced another 100 in moving to a superb 201, including 26 fours and a six.

Of the home side's bowlers, none suffered more than Mark Lavine. Having bowled 15 overs for 74 on Friday, he sent down another nine on Saturday at a cost of 70 runs. His 4/144 off just 24 overs included 20 no-balls, matching the tally sent down by Roger Telemachus in the first North West innings.

Telemachus managed to gain the ascendancy in the no-ball count in the 43.4 overs that the home side's second knock lasted, overstepping a further 14 times, but it was ultimately of no consequence as North West capitulated with time to spare on the third day, handing Province a healthy haul of 20 log points.

First innings hero Morne Strydom stood unbowed at the close on 33, but there was to be no repeat of the 204-run first-innings stand with Alfonso Thomas. Incidentally, just to place that stand in perspective, 204 is what you get if you subtract 126 from 330.

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