North West blitz surprises Western Province

Northwest surprised Western Province with a four wicket victory off the penultimate ball of the match in the Standard Bank Cup clash in Potchefstroom on Friday.

Northwest scored 261 for six in response to Western Province's 258 for five in their allotted 45 overs.

Home side opener Hendrik de Vos scored 82 not out while West Indian Mark Lavine blasted 44 off 21 balls down the order that swung the match in favour of the hosts.

Western Province's bowling was well below par as they conceded 23 wides to compound their misery.

It started well for the visitors, who won the toss and elected to bat. Spearheaded by a maiden one-day century from opener Graeme Smith they looked well placed to record a win that seemed a mere formality.

Smith scored 106 and took three for 46 in 8.2 overs to earn the man of the match award. His heroics were not enough as the rest of the team failed to raise their game when it was needed.

Western Province openers Smith and suspended national team player Herschelle Gibbs put on 40 for the first wicket. Gibbs blitzed 22 that included five boundaries before being caught by De Vos off the bowling of seamer Garth Roe.

Zimbabwean international Neil Johnson played the dominant role in a 103-run second wicket partnership with Smith, scoring 58. It was an aggressive knock that included four boundaries and one six. He holed out to Craig Light off spinnner Corrie Jordaan.

Lloyd Ferreira then played the support role as Smith moved to his century. Ferreira was Roe's second victim caught in the covers by West Indian Mark Lavine.

Smith was run out two overs from the end of the innings as he tried to force the pace further. But he had already done enough to put his side into a strong position

The Northwest response was spirited as they tried manfully to stay with the required run rate of five and a half to the over.

They had fallen behind with the loss of opener Glen Hewitt (42), Arno Jacobs (18) and Martin Venter (3) before Lavine made hay and turned the match on its head.

When he holed out to Herschelle Gibbs at point, the way was paved for De Vos to steer his side to victory.