Western Province ended the penultimate day of the UCB Bowl final much the happier team.

A brilliant century from their skipper Jonno McLean set up a challenging target of 243, espescially so with the pitch aiding the spinners; while two wickets for left arm spinner Paul Harris in the few remaining overs saw the visitors needing another 229 runs to win with both the openers dismissed.

The day started on a quiet note. The first four overs were maidens, and when McLean cover drove for four in the 11th over of the day, this was only the third scoring shot. However, McLean and Rashaad Magiet were intent on survival. Magiet eventually went for 52 made in just under three and a half hours. McLean was then further and ably assisted by Warren Wyngard and Renier Munnik with successive century partnerships. These could have gone further, but Wyngard was run out by Freidel de Wet attempting a second run to complete his 50. Munnik was pedestrian while McLean worked on a big total. Indeed, Munnik contributed just 11 to the 50 partnership, and had scored 16 off 89 balls before suddenly launching into the bowling.

Northerns then produced an unexpected turnaround when Christo Karemaker produced a spiteful delivery which struck Munnik on the hand. After receiving treatment, the young all-rounder faced just one ball before retiring hurt on 33. Shortly afterwards, McLean was caught in the deep for 152, a dismissal which was the start of an astonishing collapse. Johan Myburgh, no more than an occasional bowler in the senior team, pulled the rug out from underneath the home batsmen, taking 6 for 22 in the space of 39 balls with his gentle off spinners. Munnik was last out, his "second" innings lasting just two ball. Only Wesley Euley provided much resistance in a dramatic hour, hitting 28 off just 20 balls, an innings which included six powerfully struck boundaries.

Northerns were left needing 243 to win off a minimum of 111 overs, seven of them to be bowled before stumps. WP were hampered by Munnik being unable to bowl, but McLean shrewdly introduced Harris into the attack after just three overs. Aldin Smith was outfoxed by his fourth delivery, an arm ball, and fellow opener Maurice Aronstam prodded a leading edge back to the jubilant bowler in his next over. The visitors were left in dissarray on 14 for 2 when the umpires offered them the light with just one over still to be bowled.

© Cricinfo