OMINOUSLY for Western Province, Free State are just 52 runs behind with loads of batting to come. A day which belonged wholly to the home side began with Allan Donald ripping through what remained of the Province innings to finish with 5-47. Donald bowled 6.3 overs for a return of 3-13 on Friday – and proved his ankle injury was a thing of the past. Victor Mpitsang was the only other bowler required by Free State on Friday, and he earned his keep by bowling Craig Matthews to finish with the handsome figures of 4-61 off 28 overs. Then the Free State batsmen set to work, and their progress was steady after Gerry Liebenberg fufilled what has become his regular role of the early casualty. Andrew Gait and Boeta Dippenaar put on 141 for the second wicket before Gait went for 59, while Dippenaar has batted immaculately for his 93 not out. With him in an unbroken third-wicket stand of 82 is Hansie Cronje, looking every inch the commander-in-chief for his undefeated 55. Dippenaar has been at the crease for 309 minutes, faced 235 balls and hit 17 fours. Cronje’s 110 minutes at the crease have seen him face 97 balls and hit nine boundaries. Alan Dawson, that consummate plugger away, deserved to be the only Province bowler to taste success by dismissing both Liebenberg and Gait to finish with 2-33 off his 20 overs.