It was a week of draws in the penultimate round of the league stage as the Central Gauteng Lions consolidated their place at the top of the 4-Day Series log and the chasing pack intensified their battle for second spot.
The Lions saw more than half of their match against the KZN Dolphins lost on account of the weather at the Wanderers where only 147.2 overs were possible.
That was sufficient time for two players to hit centuries, though, as Tshepang Dithole (157 off 225 balls; 19 fours, three sixes) and Joshua Richards (130* off 198 balls; 18 fours, three sixes) emerged as the standout batsmen from the game.
REACTION: Lions achieved bonus-points target – Richards
The Dolphins had batted first after being put in by the Lions and went on to score 357. Left-hander Dithole led the way, with Romashan Pillay hitting 60. Codi Yusuf was the pick of the bowlers as he ended with 4-54.
Then in reply, the hosts got to 250-2 thanks to Richards and Zubayr Hamza (62*), the pair putting on an unbroken 161 for the third wicket.
It was a result that took the Lions to 110.14 points and left the Dolphins on 91.5 in third.
That allowed the Northerns Titans (94.1) to regain second spot after their clash with the North West Dragons finished in a draw in Centurion where the weather also stole time.
Dewald Brevis continued his recent rich run of form by scoring his fourth career century when the hosts replied to the visitors’ 345 with 463-9 declared.
Batting first, the visitors were driven by half-centuries from Matthew Kleinveldt (99), Wihan Lubbe (84) and Bamanye Xenxe (51).
Brevis then hit a free-flowing 148 off 155 balls (17 fours, five sixes) and together with Keegan Petersen (112 off 178 balls; 15 fours, one six), ensured the Titans took a more than 100-run first-innings lead.
Dewald Brevis with 148(155) vs the Dragons pic.twitter.com/JHRFzRNJNo
— Werner (@Werries_) March 31, 2025
Lhuan-dre Pretorius (58) and Neil Brand (82*) were also among the runs, before the Dragons replied with 189-1 in their second innings during which Lesiba Ngoepe (84*) and Raynard van Tonder (59*) both struck half-centuries.
In Cape Town, the local derby between Western Province and Boland came closest to producing a result before ending in a draw.
Tony de Zorzi (141 off 204 balls; 16 fours) and Kyle Verreynne (131* off 215 balls; eight fours) both struck first-innings centuries with the hosts batting first and amassing 592-8 declared. Edward Moore (75), David Bedingham (68) and George Linde (91) were also among the runs at Newlands.
Shaun von Berg took 6-126 to move two clear at the top of the wicket-taking charts for the 2024-25 season.
The visitors replied with 318 thanks to centuries from Pieter Malan (102 off 246 balls; 10 fours) and Clyde Reeves-Fortuin (129 off 214 balls; 18 fours), before the hosts batted just 19 overs in their second innings and scored 106-2 declared in pursuit of a result.
However, Boland stood their ground and replied with 197-3 thanks to Grant Roelofsen (92) and Aviwe Mgijima (63*).
WP (88.84) and Boland (85.96) stayed fourth and fifth on the table, with both teams, together with the Titans and Dolphins, in with a chance of finishing in the top two, which will secure a place in the April final.
Round 8 fixtures
3-6 April: EP Warriors vs KZN Dolphins
3-6 April: Free State Knights vs Central Gauteng Lions
3–6 April: Northerns Titans vs Boland
3-6 April: North West Dragons vs Western Province
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
