Mark Lavine smashed 113 runs off 108 balls to temporarily keep North West's heads above water in Potchefstroom on Friday.

However, by the close Border were 86 for three in their second innings for a lead of 102. Border were dismissed for 274 in their first innings on Thursday, and ended North West's reply at 248 on Friday.

Glen Hewitt and Lavine held together an otherwise lacklustre North West first innings in which the first three wickets fell in the space of 18 deliveries with just 23 runs on the board.

Vasbert Drakes bowled Riaan Niewoudt for 15, before Piet Botha had Andrew Lawson caught behind for four and trapped Morne Strydom in front for a fourth-ball duck.

In fact, the home side dwinded to 68 for five before Hewitt and Lavine intervened. The next 33 overs belonged to them as they took on the previously rampant Border attack.

Their partnership grew to 165 before Hewitt was trapped in front by off-spinner Geoff Love for a 62 that included 10 fours.

However, Hewitt's dismissal was the start of another slide that claimed three wickets in the space of five deliveries - the last of them Lavine's, caught off Tyron Henderson for a sparkling 113 struck off just 108 balls with 16 fours and three sixes.

Henderson had Alfonso Thomas caught first ball and dismissed Lavine two balls later on his way to figures of four for 53.

Allrounder Botha then put on his other hat and featured in a solid-looking opening stand of 57 he shared with Craig Sugden and then in scoring a competent half-century.

However, medium pacer Francois van der Merwe refused to allow Border to get going. He removed Sugden in the 23rd over and accounted for Botha and Laden Gamiet, for a duck, in the space of four balls six overs later to head for the showers with figures of three for 27.

© MWP