A blistering assault on the North West bowling by 19-year-old Umar Abrahams just failed to carry Eastern Province to victory as the Dragons kept alive their hopes of a Standard Bank Cup semi-final berth at St George's Park on Friday.

With EP apparently down and out at 158 for seven in reply to North West's 249 for six, Abrahams hammered 73 off 66 balls to carry EP to within 10 of victory at the start of the final over. There was no fairy tale ending, however, as Abrahams holed out off the first ball of the over from Alfonso Thomas to give the Dragons victory by nine runs.

Earlier, Arno Jacobs, with 83, and a quickfire 59 off just 43 deliveries from captain Martin Venter had lifted North West to an impressive total. The victory means that North West leapfrog EP into fourth place on the log.

In Benoni a torrential Highveld thunderstorm washed out Easterns' clash against the Highveld Strikers with the Strikers struggling on 119 for six off 37 overs after the visitors had opted to bat first.

Andrew Hall nipped out the Strikers' big three – Daryll Cullinan, Adam Bacher and Nic Pothas – in a devastating opening burst which left the Strikers reeling on 7 for three before Stephen Cook made an unbeaten 55 to stage something of a recovery. Then the rain came down.

© CricInfo