Northerns' beat Boland without flu ridden Elworthy

David Townsend and Greg Smith took seven wickets between them as Northerns' overcame the loss of experienced Steve Elworthy to beat Boland by 53 runs.

The visitors had been in search of 423 to win after Northerns declared their second innings closed on 343 for four. Boland were dismissed for 132 in their first innings, to which Northerns replied with 211.

The win puts Northerns on top in Group A on 56 points, followed on 51 points by Free State and Boland, on 38.

Elworthy was ruled out with flu, but Townsend and Smith stepped into the breach to take four for 116 and three for 99 respectively.

Twenty-year-old Boland opener Henry Davids batted with impressive confidence and raced to his century off 114 deliveries, an astonishing feat considering he was on his Supersport Series debut.

Davids lost his opening partner, James Henderson, early on. But a resolute Louis Koen joined him and the second wicket-pair wrested the initiative from the Northerns bowlers in steering their team to 190 for one at lunch.

After the break the left-arm spinner, Nigel Brouwers, tied Boland down and eventually had Davids stumped by Kruger van Wyk for 124. He was at the crease for four hours, faced 190 balls and hit 20 fours.

As was the case on Saturday, Boland lost two more wickets in quick succession and suddenly looked in trouble on 207 for four.

Left-arm paceman Smith, who until that stage had nothing go his way, removed Piet Barnard for nought and Justin Ontong for one.

Nineten-year-old Jonathan Trott joined Koen at the wicket and his patience helped him steady the ship. But in the absence of Elworthy someone else had to something special and that player turned out to be swing bowler Townsend. His first victim was Trott, who was caught behind. Next to go was the courageous Koen.

He fell three runs short of a well-deserved century after steering a Townsend away-swinger to Martin van Jaarsveld at second slip. His departure left Boland perilously placed on 292 for six with precious little batting to come.

Brad Player didn't last long before he also got a faint touch to a Townsend delivery and was caught behind. Charl Langeveldt only managed four runs before Townsend brought his effort to an abrupt end.

Steven Palframan hung on valiantly and scored 46 valuable runs until Smith castled him.

With Boland on 347 for nine, tailender Andrew Pringle eked out 27 runs. Yet his departure was inevitable and it was perhaps fitting that the home captain, Gerald Dros, claimed the final scalp.