Western Province and local rivals Boland battled through a third consecutive closely contested day of cricket with the likelihood now that both captains will have all but dismissed any chance of stealing all the points from what has been an absorbing encounter.

By stumps on Saturday, Boland had moved into a second innings lead worth 137, with eight wickets still standing. Individual honours for the day were shared between two youngsters, continuing the theme set by some of South Africa's bright young talents over the course of this match.

Still there at the close for Boland was Gerhard Strydom (60), the 21 year-old posting his maiden first-class fifty on debut. The left-hander looked composed and at home with his unfussy technique as he defied the likes of Roger Telemachus, Alan Dawson and Paul Adams while receiving good support from a man of far greater experience at the other end, Louis Koen (46).

Earlier Graeme Smith had moved serenely to his first Supersport Series century, after resuming on 79 overnight. 20 year-old Smith – another left-hander - was brought down from Johannesburg last year by Western Province and has shown a great deal of promise without ever reinforcing it with a big score. He put that right on Saturday.

As long as he and the breezy Neil Johnson (75) were together there was always a chance that Province might take a healthy first innings lead.

However, when their 123-run partnership was broken the home side's lower middle order caved in alarmingly before Claude Henderson and Adams brought Province to within four runs of the Boland first innings total with an enterprising stand of 35 for the tenth wicket.

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