KwaZulu-Natal Inland and Eastern Province ended day one of their CSA 3-Day Provincial Cup on an even footing at the Grey High School Pollock Field on Thursday.
Set a first innings target of 269, EP reached 99 for four at stumps, still trailing the visitors by 169 with six wickets in hand.
The Inland side made 268 thanks mainly to a brilliant 109 by KwaZulu-Natal Inland batsman Grant Roelofsen.
The former SA U19 player entered the fray at 13 for three to rescue his side.
Roelofsen displayed excellent powers of concentration and struck some elegant boundaries as he brought up his century in the 65th over.
EP put the visitors in to bat and seamers Glenton Stuurman and Tiaan Koekemoer were on the money from the off as the pair took three wickets inside the first seven overs.
Stuurman bowled Sithabiso Zungu in the first over without troubling the scorers before Koekemoer joined the wickets column to remove Johnny Riekert for four.
Joel Veeran was dismissed by Stuurman with his tally on two before captain Luke Schlemmer and Roelofsen added 75 for the fourth wicket and Koekemoer struck in the 27th over, with the score on 95, to remove Schlemmer for 35.
Koekemoer also removed Kushen Kishun for one as he found the KZN batsman’s edge with the score on 101 for five.
Kelly Smuts picked up the wicket of Gareth Dukes (14) straight after lunch.
Graham Humes (15) was out leg before wicket off the bowling of spinner Luvuyo Adam, who also dismissed Kurtlyn Mannikum (19).
Roelofsen was the second last wicket out, falling victim to Stuurman.
Inland speedster Graham Hume then ripped through the EP top order, picking up the wickets of Mathew Christensen (3), Onke Nyaku (16) and Joshua van Heerden (14).
Smuts (24) and Thomas Kaber (18) will resume the innings for EP on Friday.