Day one of a round of matches, featuring all six teams, saw plenty of runs scored all over the country.

The Warriors won the toss and elected to bat in Pietermaritzburg. The innings was built around Michael Price, who scored a determined 113 off 226 deliveries, before falling victim to Imran Tahir. The leg-spinner picked up two quick sticks with the score on 221, but Colin Ingram and Wayne Parnell steadied the ship and took the visitors to the close.

The captain will resume in the morning on 63, while Parnell will be looking to improve on his 32 over-night and show the national selectors that he is an option for the crucial all-rounder position. The two left the field with the scoreboard reading 290-5 and will be in search of maximum batting points on day two.

In Bloemfontein, the Knights won the toss and inserted the Titans. The decision seemed to backfire. As the openers put on 81 for the first wicket. Heino Kuhn pushed on after losing his partner and registered a 222-ball 132.

There were decent contributions throughout and Roelof van der Merwe continued his fine form in the whites with a brisk 51 off just 63 deliveries. A healthy run rate saw the Titans finish on 364-8. They will hope that the bowlers can smash a few in the morning to get nice and loose before raring in with the new.

The defending champions didn’t have everything go their way in Cape Town. The Lions won the toss and chose to bat first on a good Newlands wicket. After the early loss of the openers, Dominic Hendricks and Neil McKenzie batted for most of the day.

Hendricks agonisingly fell for 99 to the part time spin of Justin Ontong, while McKenzie compiled a brilliant 125. They both fell in the latter stages of the day, as late wickets brought the match back into the balance. The score of 294-6 means that whoever has a better morning on day two will take the initiative in this clash.

Report compiled by Gareth Stevens.

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