Tony de Zorzi’s fourth first-class hundred helped Western Province take a 48-run lead against the Boland Rocks on day two of their 4-Day Series clash in Paarl on Saturday.
Resuming the day on 5-0 after dismissing their opponents for 267 towards the end of day one, De Zorzi and Yaseen Vallie (26) put on 43 runs for the opening partnership before the former teamed up with captain Zubayr Hamza for a 70-run stand to take control of proceedings.
De Zorzi scored 129 off 283 balls (13 fours, one six), while Hamza fell four runs short of a deserved century with 94 off 160 balls (10 fours, five sixes) as the visitors reached stumps on 315-4 after 107 overs.
In Gqeberha, the Central Gauteng Lions are in the driving seat against the EP Warriors after another commendable bowling performance in challenging conditions for batsmen.
After being bowled out for 170 in response to the Warriors’ first innings score of 96 all out, with Marco Jansen taking 6-38, the Lions attack – namely Sisanda Magala (4-17) and Duanne Olivier (2-15) – tore through the home side to leave them reeling on 41-7, still trailing by 33 runs with only three second-inning wickets remaining.
In Potchefstroom, the Free State Knights failed to add to their overnight score of 418-8 as the North West Dragons picked up two early morning wickets that left Patrick Kruger unbeaten on 192 at the other end – eight runs short of a maiden double-century.
The Dragons’ first innings ended on 237 all out after 68.2 overs, with skipper Nicky van den Bergh (42) the standout batsman for his side, while Mbulelo Budaza picked up 4-64 to force the hosts to begin day three following on and 181 runs behind.
In the other clash in Division One, the Northerns Titans added 53 runs, aided by a late and unbeaten cameo from Corbin Bosch (53*), to end their first innings at Centurion on 424 all out.
In reply, Sarel Erwee scored 103* off 221 balls and Bryce Parsons a maiden first-class half-century (78) in a bright 164-run opening stand to take the KZN Dolphins to 241-2 and 183 runs behind at stumps.
CSA 4-Day Series Day 2 scores:
Division One:
Western Province lead Boland Rocks by 48 runs
Rocks: 267
WP: 315-4 after 107 overs; T de Zorzi 129 (283), Z Hamza 94 (160); H Viljoen 2-79, S von Berg 1-86
KZN Dolphins trail Northerns Titans by 183 runs
Titans: 424 after 98.4 overs; J Hermann 112 (132), J Pillay 54 (120), D Dupavillon 4-63, K Mungroo 4-68
Dolphins: 241-2 after 71 overs; S Erwee 103* (221), B Parsons 78 (152), J Dala 1-56, S Harmer 1-64
EP Warriors trail Central Gauteng Lions by 33 runs
Warriors: 96 & 41-7 after 27 overs; S Qeshile 11* (50), T van Vuuren 8 (45); S Magala 4-17, D Olivier 2-15
Lions: 170 after 56.1 overs; J Richards 39 (90), D Hendricks 36 (75); M Jansen 6-40, M Nabe 2-51
North West Dragons trail Free State Knights by 181 runs
Knights: 418 after 96 overs; P Kruger 192* (216), P van Biljon 127 (194), S Muthusamy 3-115, D Potgieter 2-63
Dragons: 237 after 68.2 overs; N van den Bergh 42 (75), E Hawken 31 (57); M Budaza 4-64, P Kruger 3-12
Division Two:
South Western Districts trail Mpumalanga Rhinos by 183 runs
Rhinos: 311 after 80.2 overs; A Kok 90 (125), B Schraader 46 (86); A Malan 2-32, S Whitehead 2-49
SWD: 90-1 after 25 overs; B Capeli 55* (64), Y Valli 32* (89)
KZN Inland Tuskers trail Northern Cape Heat by 69 runs
Heat: 333 after 108.3 overs; J Vandiar 85 (176), R Moonsamy 83 (153); M Khumalo 4-51, K Dudgeon 3-84
Tuskers: 264-6 after 71.5 overs; L Schlemmer 63 (105), M Erlank 55 (86); A Swanepoel 2-51, B Swanepoel 1-37
Limpopo Impalas trail Eastern Storm by 270 runs
Storm: 441 after 120.2 overs; M Twala 124 (245), W Coulentianos 84 (142); S Langa 3-64, M Nofal 3-82
Impalas: 171-6 after 53.3 overs; T Hobson 67* (144), L Kgoatle 31 (22); K Gumede 2-31, D Botha 2-35
