The Titans and the Dolphins both struggled to keep the opposition quiet on the opening day of their CSA 4-Day Franchise Series matches, while the Cape Cobras got off to a flying start to have the Knights 3-3, before a century by Keegan Petersen rescued the Knights’ innings.
Dolphins vs Lions
It seemed a good toss to win and the Lions decided to take first strike, which proved to be fruitful for the Johannesburg side. Openers Cook and Reeza Hendricks took advantage of some below-par bowling from the hosts. The pair dominated the morning session, taking the Lions to 119 without loss at lunch, with Cook on 49 and Hendricks 65.
The Dolphins continued to toil in the afternoon sessions and Eathan Bosch managed to pick up the first wicket, Hendricks caught at mid-on for 86.
At tea, the Lions were 229 for one with Cook on 103 and Kagiso Rapulana on 32.
It was a productive final session for the Dolphins, where they picked up three wickets with Cook falling to Keith Dudgeon for 130 (his 47th career century). Rapulana followed soon after for 54 and Wiaan Mulder was bowled by Senuran Muthusamy for a duck.
Eathan Bosch finished with two for 46 in 14 overs. Dudgeon ended the day with figures of one for 49, and Muthusamy’s 27 overs returned one for 83 runs.
The players left the field due to bad light, with the Lions 295 for four wickets.
Lions 295-4 (SC Cook 130, RR Hendricks 86, K Rapulana 54; E Bosch 2-46, KJ Dudgeon 1-49, S Muthusamy 1-83)
Dolphins (still to bat)
The Lions won the toss and elected to bat first
Knights vs Cape Cobras
An unbeaten century by Keegan Petersen helped the Knights recover from a horror start to reach stumps on 241 for eight against the Cape Cobras in Bloemfontein on Friday.
After winning the toss and batting at the Mangaung Oval, the hosts slumped to three for three inside the first 17 deliveries but were rescued by their top-scorer after his fine 126 not out (237 balls, 18×4).
He shared in key stands of 88 with Rudi Second (53 off 92 balls, 7×4) for the fourth wicket and 79 with Shadley van Schalkwyk (22) for the seventh wicket as the Central Franchise were spared against the runaway log leaders.
Play eventually ended early – after 80 overs to be precise – when bad light made conditions unplayable.
But the Knights will be pleased to have still been batting at the end of the day considering how their top order was blown away by star Cobras seamers Dane Paterson and Lizaad Williams, who picked up three for 41 and three for 63 respectively.
Paceman Paterson was the main threat early on by getting rid of Raynard van Tonder (0) and Pite van Biljon (1), either side of Williams knocking over Grant Mokoena (0).
Petersen then took up the responsibility of rescuing his side, initially through the help of Second, as the pair took the score to 91 for three, before the latter fell.
Andries Gous (12) and Ryan McLaren (2) were taken out by Williams as the Knights again found themselves in a hole on 134 for six.
Van Schalkwyk and Petersen got things going for their side once more, with the latter going past his 13th career ton whilst they were together.
And despite the loss of the former and Thandolwethu Mnyaka (15), Petersen remained firm until the close.
Knights 241-8 (KD Petersen 126 not out, RS Second 53, SC van Schalkwyk 22; D Paterson 3-41, LB Williams 3-63, M Nabe 1-38, DL Piedt 1-46)
Cape Cobras (still to bat)
Knights won the toss and elected to bat
Warriors vs Titans
A career-best century by Eddie Moore led the way on a commanding opening day for the Warriors against the Titans in their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter at Buffalo Park in East London on Friday.
The hosts scored at a run rate of 4.3 to the over to reach stumps on a powerful 405 for nine.
Opener Moore top-scored with 151 (220 balls, 20×4, 1×6) – his ninth career ton and one that surpassed his previous best score of 144 for Eastern Province against KwaZulu-Natal Inland last season.
There were also more than handy contributions from Yaseen Vallie (75 off 106 balls, 11×4) and Lesiba Ngoepe (70 not out off 83 balls, 4×4, 4×6) as the Eastern Cape franchise bossed the day against the reigning champions.
The Warriors won the toss and opted to bat first, but they would have been worried after the in-form Gihahn Cloete (6) and Colin Ackermann (1) were both back removing their pads by the fifth over.
The former fell to Tshepo Moreki (2-73) and the latter was bowled by Corbin Bosch, the pick of the bowlers on the day, having bagged three for 46.
However, Moore and Vallie added 180 for the third wicket as the Warriors reached 195 in the 44th over.
Jon-Jon Smuts (36) then offered his support in another good partnership of 69 for the fourth wicket to continue the recovery. Both the captain and Moore fell within quick succession of each other, leaving their side still with work to do on 283 for five.
It was then left to Ngoepe to carry the lower order through as he added 53 with the young Sinethemba Qeshile (28), and another 64 with Ayabulela Gqamane (18) to inspire a strong final session that left the home side in a strong position after the opening day.
Warriors 405-9 (EM Moore 151, MY Vallie 75, LC Ngoepe 70 not out, JT Smuts 36, Qeshile † 28; C Bosch 3-46, SA Mothoa 2-37, TL Moreki 2-73, H Davids 1-26, S von Berg 1-108)
Titans (still to bat)
Warriors won the toss and elected to bat
Photo: Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images
