Five centuries were scored on the first day of the St David’s Time Cricket Festival on Thursday, writes THEO GARRUN.

Teams also put together some pretty big first-innings totals on the flat winter wickets and threadbare outfields.

The top scorer of the day was Cameron Rowe of St Stithians, who made 156 against Clifton off 165 balls, with 21 fours and two sixes. He shared a huge first-wicket partnership of 265 with Cameron Shekleton (131) on their way to helping Saints to 328-4 in reply to Clifton’s 108 all out.

There were also two hundreds scored by the hosts, St David’s. Alex Lategan made 106 and Jacob Miltz 130 as their side got to 298-7 declared.

Bryce Parsons of KES was the fifth centurion of the day, and needed only 105 balls to make his 117, which included 15 fours and a six. KES finished their innings on 247-3.

The best bowling figures came from St Stithians leg-spinner Joshua Hoffman, who took 8-36 in 15 overs to bundle Clifton out. Odirile Modikoane of the CSA Talent Acceleration Programme team was not far behind. Left-arm spinner Modikoane took seven wickets for just six runs in five overs against St Alban’s.

The state of play halfway through the first round of matches is:

CSA TAP XI vs St Alban’s

Tap 246-9 (Bonga Makhaha 54, Memelo Sephati 42, Marco Jansen 62; Rein Hulme 3-31

St Alban’s 113 all out (Ross Whitelaw 49, Odirile Modikoane 7-6).

St David’s vs St Andrew’s

St David’s 298-7 (Alex Lategan 106, Jacob Miltz 130)

St Andrew’s 144-2 (Corne Viljoen 82 not out, Reece Van Staden 37).

King Edward vs Maritzburg College

Maritzburg College 251-9 (Jarred Campbell 51. Andre Bradford 46, Brynley Noble 41, Dean Dyer 43; Mondli Khumalo 3-64, Bryce Parsons 3-59, Keegan Jansen Van Rensburg 3-64).

King Edward 247-3 (Bryce Parsons 117, Heinrigh Pieterse 94 not out).

St Stithans vs Clifton

Clifton 108 (John Munford 26; Joshua Hoffman 8-36).

St Stithians 328/4 (Cameron Shekleton 131, Cameron Rowe 156).

Photo: Theo Garrun