Western Province enjoyed a productive day against neighbours Boland, holding a clear advantage by the close. Despite struggling on 86 for 4 in the morning session, the middle order pulled the innings around. Dominic Telo and Ryan Canning added 103 for the sixth wicket and then Paul Adams, dropped from Cape Cobras franchise team, weighed in with 47. Hillroy Paulse, a 20-year-old right-arm seamer, claimed his first five-wicket haul before the WP attack fought back. Rory Kleinveldt grabbed two wickets as Boland struggled to the close on 78 for 4.
Zimbabwe Under-23 again struggled on the opening day against Border, being skittled for 125 before bad light ended play. Lundi Mbane was the main threat throughout the day, finishing with 5 for 26. Gregory Strydom (30) was the only Zimbabwean to pass 18, striking five boundaries in his 66-ball stay.
Runs flowed on the traditionally flat pitch at Potchefstroom where North West ended the day marginally in front after an opening stand of 101 in 21 overs launched their reply to Easterns' 310. Easterns will feel they missed an opportunity to really cash in, with five of their batsmen passing 40 but none passed Jaco Booysen's boundary-filled 71. Herman van Straaten also peppered the fence with 12 fours in his 68, but Driaan Steyn, the North West opener, out-paced them all as he raced to 74 off 67 balls by the close.
Northerns are closing in on Griqualand West's first innings after an unbeaten stand of 165 between Johannes Myburgh and Maurice Aronstam. Four of the Griqua batsmen reached fifties but three wickets for Gerald Dros kept them under control. Allrounder Jandre Coetzee continued his good form by top-scoring with 54, but he was powerless with the ball to stop Northerns' flying start.
The bowlers dominated on the first day between Eastern Province and KwaZulu-Natal at the University of Port Elizabeth. EP struggled to 148, scored at barely two-an-over, before KwaZulu-Natal lost two early wickets in reply. In the circumstances Darryl Willemse's 58 - made in over three hours from 162 balls - was a commendable effort. The wickets were shared around with Robert Frylinck claiming the best figures of 3 for 29.