Day two of the 4-Day Franchise Series saw the batsmen coming into their own as the Titans regrouped to keep themselves in the game against the Cobras, the Lions took a healthy lead over the Knights and the Dolphins cashed in against the Warriors.
Vaughn van Jaarsveld struck his 19th first-class century as the Dolphins tightened their grip on the Warriors at the halfway stage of their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter in Durban on Tuesday.
The left-hander made 138 (209 balls, 22 fours, 1 six) to anchor the first innings of the home side, who were eventually dismissed for 335 – a healthy lead of 160.
That was then whittled down to 78 after the visitors reached 82 for one by stumps.
‘Opening the batting now is a new adventure for me and it was satisfying to get some runs under the belt after a poor game in Kimberley,’ said Van Jaarsveld.
‘I’m chuffed to get some good runs here now and I hope that I can continue the form.’
But the day, in general, belonged to the KwaZulu-Natal franchise. They resumed at the start on 64 for none with Van Jaarsveld and Sarel Erwee (44) stretching their opening stand to 110, before the latter was dismissed by Sisanda Magala (2-58).
Cody Chetty, Khaya Zondo (both 10), and Senuran Muthusamy (three) all followed in relatively quick time as the men from the Eastern Cape tried to claw their way back into the game.
Van Jaarsveld followed them after a partnership of 45 with Dane Vilas (38) for the fifth wicket with the score on 221.
However, there was another strong stand of 50 between the veteran wicketkeeper and Sibonelo Makhanya, who hit an unbeaten 54 off 83 deliveries (seven fours, one six) that followed leaving the home side well placed at 301 for six at one stage.
Rising young fast bowling star Lutho Sipamla then mopped up the tail in a devastating spell of four for 24 from 6.2 overs – the hosts bowled out shortly after tea.
The Warriors lost the in-form Eddie Moore early when he nicked Robbie Frylinck behind for seven, but an unbroken 58-run stand between Gihahn Cloete (43) and Colin Ackermann (32) helped them fight back until the close.
Warriors 175 (Gihahn Cloete 63, Edward Moore 37; Eathan Bosch 6-38, Robbie Frylinck 2-33) & 82-1 (Gihahn Cloete 43 not out, Colin Ackermann 32 not out)
Dolphins 335 (Sarel Erwee 44, Vaughn van Jaarsveld 138, Sibonelo Makhanya 54 not out; Lutho Sipamla 4-59, Sisanda Magala 2-58, Anrich Nortje 2-103; Robbie Frylinck 1-25)
Warriors trail by 78 runs with nine second-innings wickets in hand
Half-centuries by Temba Bavuma and Nicky van den Bergh left the Highveld Lions strongly placed after two days of 4-Day Domestic Series action against the Knights in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Captain Temba Bavuma fell six runs shy of a ton after striking 94 (127 balls, 15 fours) at the Wanderers Stadium as his side reached the close on 333 for seven. Wicketkeeper Van den Bergh managed 59 (86 balls, 10 fours) with their efforts ensuring the home side had established a lead of 67 when stumps were drawn.
Having resumed the day on four for none, the Lions lost openers Omphile Ramela (14) and Stephen Cook (30) with 50 on the board – pick of the bowlers Ottniel Baartman (3-48) grabbing both their scalps.
Standard Bank Proteas star Bavuma and Dominic Hendricks (30) then dug in with a third-wicket stand that was worth 84, before a partnership to the value of 75 followed between the former and Rassie van der Dussen (32).
But both soon fell within quick succession to Mbulelo Budaza (2-60) as the Lions slipped from 209 for three to 227 for five.
That brought Van den Bergh and Bjorn Fortuin (28) together and they added the highest partnership of the innings – 89 for the sixth wicket – to put their side ahead in the game.
Baartman and Duanne Olivier (1-70) did get rid of both of them before the close, but the home side were still in control at the end.
Knights 266 (Rudi Second 69, Pite van Biljon 67, Keegan Petersen 38; Beuran Hendricks 5-45, Craig Alexander 2-57)
Lions 333-7 (Temba Bavuma 94, Nicky van den Bergh 59, Rassie van der Dussen 32; Ottniel Baartman 3-48, Mbulelo Budaza 2-60, Ryan McLaren 1-64, Duanne Olivier 1-70)
Lions lead by 67 runs with three first-innings wickets in hand
A marathon 230-run partnership between the in-form Theunis de Bruyn and Jonathan Vandiar gave the Multiply Titans some hope of avoiding defeat after the second day of their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter against the World Sports Betting Cape Cobras in Centurion on Tuesday.
The pair helped their side establish an 86-run lead by stumps on day two with Standard Bank Proteas batsman De Bruyn leading the way thanks to his unbeaten 127 (161 balls, 22 fours).
Vandiar fell agonisingly short of three figures when he fell for 98 (158 balls, 11 fours, 5 sixes) less than five overs before the close, which the champions reached on 301 for five.
It left the home side still in with a chance of escaping with a positive result from the game against the log-leaders, something that looked extremely unlikely after they were shot out for just 122 on the opening day.
The Cobras had resumed at the start on 256 for eight and they managed to add 81 for the final two wickets thanks to a strong half-century by all-rounder Jason Smith, who made 92 (131 balls, 13 fours, one six).
Their star man with the ball, Tladi Bokako, also contributed substantially with the bat by striking an attacking 34 off 46 balls, before the visitors were bowled out for 337 – an innings lead of 215.
Alfred Mothoa (3-68) and Junior Dala (1-83) picked up the final two wickets, with the pick of the bowlers being Shaun von Berg with four for 70.
The game looked like it was heading for a quick finish after the Titans lost three wickets inside the opening 17 overs to slip to 70 for three. Amongst those to fall were Proteas Test opener Dean Elgar for six and Tony de Zorzi for an attacking 47 off 58 balls.
But De Bruyn and Vandiar dug in – the former notching up his 12th first-class century in the process and taking his aggregate this season to close to 400 in only his third game.
Just when it looked like the Titans would conclude the day well, though, Dane Piedt (2-94) removed the latter and then Bokako (2-46) continued his outstanding game with the wicket of nightwatchman Dala (0) to maintain control for the table-topping Cape side.
Titans 122 (Theunis de Bruyn 61, Shaun von Berg 22; Tladi Bokako 4-57, Dane Paterson 3-34, Jason Smith 2-21) & 301-5 (Theunis de Bruyn 127 not out, Jonathan Vandiar 98, Tony de Zorzi 47; Tladi Bokako 2-46, Dane Piedt 2-94, Dane Paterson 1-55)
Cape Cobras 337 (Jason Smith 92, David Bedingham 84, Kyle Verreynne 42; Alfred Mothoa 3-68, Shaun von Berg 4-70, Neil Brand 1-38)
Titans lead by 86 runs with five second-innings wickets in hand
Photo: Anesh Debiky/Gameplan Media
