NORTHERNS had stretched their lead to 262 by the close of the second day on Friday and there seems no way back into this match for Easterns. They dug their grave when they were able to resist the Northerns attack for just 47 overs. Clinical bowling by Steve Elworthy, Greg Smith and David Townsend, who knocked over five between them, softened up the middle order and tail for Mark Davis. Northerns resumed on 291-4 and ran into unexpected pluck from the Easterns bowlers as they crept up on their lunchtime declaration. The overnight pair of Gerald Dros and Johan Myburgh added just five runs before their fifth-wicket stand foundered at 96, and the rest of Northerns line-up could muster only 56 runs as Easterns sneaked back into the contest. But that was surely the home side’s last glimpse of something approaching parity. Openers Philip Hearle and Hussein Manack were both out with just a lowly single on the board, while there was evidence of backbone in the batting of Aldo van den Berg and Albie Morkel. Shakeel Ahmed also deserves an honourable mention for returning to the fray after having his nose bloodied by a ball from Smith. Northerns, though, will fancy their chances of wrapping this up long before Sunday evening.