All that he touched, struck and bowled turned to gold. This was Pierre Joubert's day as Northerns moved into an impregnable position on day two of this Supersport Series Super Eight game against host Eastern Province at St George's Park on Friday.

Joubert struck an unbeaten 72 in Northerns' 451 for nine declared and then picked up five wickets for just ten runs as Eastern Province were dismissed for just 108 in reply. Just a little surprisingly, Northerns captain Martin van Jaarsveld decided not to enforce the follow-on and by stumps the visitors were 26-1, after losing Johan Myburg for just two.

Resuming on 308-3, Northerns moved relatively slowly towards their declaration total, apparently determined to drain Eastern Province of energy and the will to make a game of it. It appears to have worked.

Rudi Bryson moved to his fifty, and although Mornantau Hayward gave a further indication of a return to controlled ways with three wickets, Joubert refused to be budged as he clung on to see Northerns past 450.

The EP batting effort could not have got off to a worse start, Greg Smith single-handedly reducing them to 2-3, Carl Bradfield, James Bryant and Dave Callaghan all dismissed for ducks. Only a ninth wicket stand of 36 between Hayward (22)and Garnett Kruger (13 not out) saved them from total humiliation.

Van Jaarsveld's decision not to enforce the follow-on raised a few eyebrows, but even the loss of Myburg failed to take the gloss off a fine day for Northerns.

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