Sarel Erwee scored an unbeaten 75 as the KZN Dolphins ended day one of their match against the Central Gauteng Lions in Potchefstroom on 181-2.
The log-leading Dolphins lost Tshepang Dithole (three) early on, before Erwee and Keegan Petersen (58) put on 99 runs for the second wicket.
Petersen was caught at first slip off the bowling of Malusi Siboto, but Marques Ackerman (40*) and Erwee maintained the Dolphins’ dominance.
Rain then cut the day’s play short.
In Centurion, Ayabulela Gqamane took 3-40 as the second-placed Northerns Titans bowled out the North West Dragons for 148 in 56.2 overs.
JP King (38) and Duan Jansen (37) made the only significant contributions with the bat for the visitors.
At stumps, the Titans were 18-1, with Renaldo Meyer having dismissed Modiri Litheko for a duck. Neil Brand (14*) and Jiveshan Pillay (4*) were at the crease.
In Paarl, Aubrey Swanepoel took 5-67 as the Free State Knights bowled out the Boland Rocks for 212 in 69.4 overs.
Michael Copeland top-scored for the hosts with 55 – his maiden first-class fifty – before being bowled by Migael Pretorius (2-18).
Maiden First-Class fifty for Michael Copeland
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— Werner (@Werries_) March 12, 2023
At stumps, the Knights were 99-3 thanks to an unbeaten 50 from opener Matthew Kleinveldt.
At Newlands, the EP Warriors were 351-9 at the close of play of their match against Western Province.
The Warriors lost opener Wihan Lubbe for a duck, before half-centuries from Jordan Hermann (81) Diego Rosier (59) and Matthew Breetzke (52), and captain Rudi Second’s 48, put them in charge.
I could watch Jordan Hermann bat all day
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— Werner (@Werries_) March 12, 2023
WP fought back well, though, picking up four wickets late in the day. Dane Paterson (3-52) and George Linde (3-92) were their most successful bowlers.
