Fast bowler Lutho Sipamla picked up six wickets to help the Central Gauteng Lions bowl out the EP Warriors on day one of their 4-Day Series encounter in Gqeberha on Friday.
The 23-year old took 6-34 as the visitors dismissed their opponents for just 96 runs within 49 overs. The Lions responded with 74-1 before bad light brought an end to the day’s play.
The Lions bowlers began the game in fine form, with frontline bowlers Sipamla and Duanne Olivier (2-27) finding their line and lengths to make it difficult for the Warriors batsmen.
Despite a 43-run, second-wicket stand between Matthew Breetzke (26) and Lesiba Ngoepe (39), the Lions pair ripped through the home side’s batting order, taking eight wickets between them as the Warriors went from 58-2 to 96 all out.
Joshua Richards (29*) and Dominic Hendricks (36) led the away side’s reply, with the Lions trailing by 22 runs with nine wickets in hand at stumps.
In Centurion, rising star Jordan Hermann stole the show for the Northerns Titans with a maiden first-class hundred in only his second game at this level as the Titans posted 371-6 against the KZN Dolphins, with opener Neil Brand also adding 56.
In the Western Cape derby, the Boland Rocks – with captain Pieter Malan (96) leading from the front – scored 267 all out against Western Province, with Mihlali Mpongwana taking 5-39. Province finished the day on 5-0.
It was a batsman’s day in Potchefstroom, with the Free State Knights scoring two centuries in their high-scoring innings of 418-8.
Skipper Pite van Biljon made 127 off 194 balls at the top of the innings, while Patrick Kruger celebrated a career-best and undefeated score of 192* of just 210 balls, including 22 fours and four sixes.
4-Day Series Day 1 scores:
Division One:
Western Province trail Boland Rocks by 262 runs
Rocks: 267 after 93.5 overs; P Malan 96 (176), S von Berg 47 (137); M Mpongwana 5-39, W Parnell 2-51.
WP: 5-0 after 3 overs; T de Zorzi 4* (11), Y Vallie 1* (7).
Northerns Titans lead the KZN Dolphins by 371 runs
Titans: 371-6 after 82 overs; J Hermann 112 (132), N Brand 56 (79); K Mungroo 3-48, D Dupavillon 1-49.
Central Gauteng Lions trail EP Warriors by 22 runs
Warriors: 96 after 49 overs; L Ngoepe 39 (104), M Breetzke 26 (83); L Sipamla 6-34, D Olivier 2-27.
Lions: 74-1 after 24.4 overs; D Hendricks 36 (75), J Richards 29* (77); M Nabe 1- 23.
Free State Knights lead North West Dragons by 418 runs
Knights: 418-8 after 94.5 overs; P Kruger 192*(210), P van Biljon 127 (194); S Muthusamy 3-115, D Potgieter 2-63
Division Two
South Western Districts vs Mpumalanga Rhinos
No play due to wet outfield.
Northern Cape Heat lead KZN Inland Tuskers by 252 runs
Heat: 252-6 after 83.2 overs; J Vandiar 87 (179), R Moonsamy 81 (150)
Eastern Storm lead Limpopo Impalas by 297 runs
Storm: 297-4 after 82 overs; M Twala 118* (222), S. Masondo 70* (98); S Langa 2-45, M Venter 1-42.
