IN CENTURION

Mark Davis is back at the helm of the Northerns side again as next target for the Titans, a place in the A Section final, looms on the horizon. His reinstatement comes almost four months after losing his place in the Northerns side for the SuperSport Series and signals a vote of confidence by the selectors and the coach, Peter Kirsten and the rest of the selection committee.

It also comes at a time when Northerns go into the most crucial phase on the first-class season, needing to win their last two matches: home games against Natal and Free State if they hope to clinch a place in the March final for the A Section Trophy.

Davis' return come after his success in leading Northerns with accomplished flair in the limited-overs arena with the second Standard Bank League title in three seasons. It also makes sense to hand the captaincy back to the all-rounder as the Titans last night faced the knowledge that they need two big victories if they hope to clinch second place on the log to Border.

This emerged after first Eastern Province, then Gauteng and Western Province wrapped up A Section victories to move above Northerns; Province into second place with Gauteng third and Eastern Province fourth.

``It is going to be very tight,'' said Davis last night. ``But I am looking forward to the challenge of leading Northerns during this final crucial stage of the first class season.''

Kirsten agreed that the log had now become very tight and Northerns selectors would have to have a hard look at all their options. The word on Rudolf Steyn, out since Christmas with a leg injury, failed to score for Northerns B in the limited-overs UCB Bowl Division 1 match against Eastern Province B at L C de Villiers Oval.

There were solid performances from Dirkie de Vos with two first-class career bests with a maiden century and a five-wicket haul. What was important was that he had a good competitive match.

Northerns play Natal at Centurion this weekend in the first of the two games they need to win if they hope to press their rivals for a place in the final in the first week in March. Natal, who left Western Province an imposing second innings target, have not had a particularly good season.

One victory in their six matches has done little for their confidence while Free State, the second side the Titans need to beat face are Free State, also at Centurion during the last weekend of the month. Free State were flattened by a Mornantau Hayward blitz on the final morning of the four-day match at Springbok Park in Bloemfontein.

At the Wanderers yesterday Clive Eksteen, a former Test left-arm spinner, who is not part of the World Cup provisional list, grabbed impressive figures of seven for 52 to rout Boland in their second innings for 204 after they had been comfortably placed at 146 for two. But the heady thought of success in the bullring became too much for the wine farmer who succumbed to the left-arm flight and loop.

When Province wiped out Natal at Newlands, even Gauteng's rush to second spot was pushed side with a fourth win in six games taking them to second spot on the log.

Northers are likely to name their side for the Natal match today with the B side, which needs to beat Natal B at Kingsmead if they are stay on course for the UCB Bowl Division 1 three-day trophy, also playing over the weekend.

SuperSport Series Latest log

                         P  W  D  L  bat  bowl  Pts
Border                   7  5  1  1   14   28   92
West Province            6  4  1  1   12   21   73
Gauteng                  7  3  3  1   22   19   71
East Province            6  3  0  3   16   24   70
Northerns                6  3  1  2    8   21   59
Free State               6  2  1  3   16   15   51
Griquas                  6  1  3  2   12   19   41
Natal                    6  1  2  3   11   18   39
Boland                   6  0  0  6    6   13   19