The Lions look set to take a substantial lead over the Titans, the Cape Cobras have just moved ahead of the Warriors with 8 second-innings wickets in hand, while the Dolphins and Knights didn’t take to the field due to persistent rain on day two of the latest round of CSA 4-Day Franchise Series matches.
Dolphins vs Knights
Rain and a wet outfield meant there was no day two play possible between the Dolphins and the Knights in their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday. The hosts would have been hoping to press on from their 330-6 advantage at the start, but were initially greeted by rain at the City Oval.
They then decided to call stumps early, meaning that Senuran Muthusamy will resume with his score unbeaten on 81 (123 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes) on day three, with Eathan Bosch (7) alongside him.
Dolphins 330-6 (MJ Ackerman 137, S Muthusamy 81 not out, K Zondo 34, G Roelofsen 32; ZC Qwabe 2-46, T Mnyaka 2-58, T Ntuli 2-111)
Knights Still to bat
Dolphins won the toss and elected to bat
Cape Cobras vs Warriors
Sinethemba Qeshile and Colin Ackermann both hit 70s as the Warriors held the advantage after the second day of their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter against the log-leading Cape Cobras in Cape Town on Tuesday.
The former struck an unbeaten 71 (80 balls, 10 fours) and the latter made 78 (152 balls, 12 fours) as the visitors were bowled out for 343 in response to the 239 made by the hosts on day one.
It gave them a first innings lead of 104, but that was erased as the title favourites went to stumps on 105 for two at Newlands. It was nonetheless a good day for the Eastern Cape franchise, as they gave themselves a decent chance of victory with a solid batting performance.
They had started proceeding on 60 for three and that score was doubled before the next wicket fell – captain Jon-Jon Smuts falling for 38. That ended a stand of 74 for the fourth wicket, and more good partnerships followed to put the away side in a position of strength.
Lesiba Ngoepe (33) added 77 for the next wicket, while 58 was produced by the final wicket pair of Qeshile and Lutho Sipamla (18). Jason Smith finished as the pick of the bowlers with four for 62, while Mthiwekhaya Nabe nabbed three for 63.
The Cobras then slipped into early trouble on 31 for two as Simon Harmer (2/34) struck twice, but an unbroken 74-run third wicket partnership between David Bedingham (48) and Pieter Malan (44) put the home side into a one-run lead at the close.
Cape Cobras 239 (JF Smith 74, RK Kleinveldt 42, DG Bedingham 43, K Verreynne 31, SM Khomari 20; BD Walters 3-51, GA Stuurman 3-88, L Sipamla 2-57, SR Harmer 2-32) & 105-2 (PJ Malan 44 not out, SM Khomari, DG Bedingham 48 not out; SR Harmer 2-34)
Warriors 343 (CN Ackermann 78, S Qeshile 71 not out, JT Smuts 38, LC Ngoepe 33, SR Harmer 30, MY Vallie 20; JF Smith 4-62, M Nabe 3-63)
Cape Cobras lead by 1 run with 8 second-innings wickets in hand
Lions vs Titans
Half-centuries by Dominic Hendricks and Kagiso Rapulana helped the Highveld Lions seize the initiative at the halfway stage of their 4-Day Domestic Series derby against the Titans in Benoni on Tuesday. The pair both shone with the bat as the visitors replied to the home sides’ 229 all out with 288 for four – a lead of 59 runs at Willowmoore Park.
Chris Morris finished as the top-scorer for the reigning champions, although he disappointingly fell three shy of a century following a blistering 97 (77 balls, 11×4, 4×6).
The Proteas all-rounder had started day two hoping to continue with his eighth-wicket rebuilding job alongside Eldred Hawken. But the latter only lasted 10 more runs as their stand ended on 32 when Nandre Burger (3-57) struck to remove the latter for 15. Corbin Bosch (16) was next to offer support to Morris as they added a further 42 for wicket number nine that again ended with Burger striking before Morris was last man out to pick-of-the-bowlers Wiaan Mulder, who ended with four for 55.
The Lions made a poor start to their reply after Stephen Cook (11) was trapped leg before wicket by Tshepo Moreki (2-69) and Wihan Lubbe (1) was caught behind off Hawken (1-45). But Hendricks dropped anchor with a patient unbeaten 91 off 250 balls (5 fours) and initially shared a stand of 102 with Rapulana, who breezed his way to 75 (90 balls, 12×4, 1×6).
After the partnership was broken by Henry Davids (1-58), Mulder (40) then added 77 for the fourth wicket alongside Hendricks. After he fell with the total on 203, Nicky van den Bergh hit 40 not out that helped take the Lions into a lead and a strong position in the contest.
Titans 229 (CH Morris 97, F Behardien 28; PWA Mulder 4-55, N Burger 3-57, BC Fortuin 1-32, MP Siboto 1-33, BE Hendricks 1-50)
Lions 288-4 (DA Hendricks 91 not out, K Rapulana 75, NJ van den Bergh 40 not out, PWA Mulder 40; TL Moreki 2-69, EL Hawken 1-45, H Davids 1-58)
Lions lead by 59 runs with 6 first-wickets in hand
Photo: Anesh Debiky/Gameplan Media
