The Knights are looking set for their second win of the 4-Day Franchise Series, while log-leaders the Cobras have a mountain to climb in Paarl to make it five wins from five.
Knights vs Warriors
Tshepo Ntuli and Ottniel Baartman shared seven wickets as the VKB Knights delivered an outstanding performance with the ball on the second day of their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter against the Warriors in Kimberley on Tuesday.
The pair claimed four for 58 and three for 28 respectively to help bowl out the visitors for just 134.
Half-centuries by debutant Raynard van Tonder (52 off 70 balls, 9 fours) and captain Pite van Biljon (63 off 49 balls, 8 fours, 3 sixes) then ensured the hosts were in the pound seat by the close on 206 for four – a lead of 365.
It capped a fine day for the Central Franchise at the Diamond Oval, where a total of 15 wickets fell. It began with Anrich Nortje (5/51) completing his fifth career five-for when he claimed the final wicket of the Knights first innings to fall, Baartman out for six, which left them all out for 293.
Eddie Moore (37) provided the Warriors with a decent start by getting them to 38 without loss.
Duanne Olivier (1/22) then broke the stand by getting rid of Gihahn Cloete (16), with Ryan McLaren (1/16) accounting for Moore, before Baartman and Ntuli ripped through the rest of the line-up. The Eastern Cape franchise lost all 10 wickets for 96 runs as they were shot out in just 38.4 overs.
Ntuli’s figures were his best at franchise level and helped give the home side a first innings lead of 159.
That was stretched to over 350 by the close thanks to SA Under-19 captain’s maiden half-century in his first franchise game.
The real impetus, though, came from skipper Van Biljon, who followed his match-saving century last week, by smashing the bowling all over at a strike-rate of 128.57 to take the game away from the Warriors. There was also 38 from Grant Mokoena and an unbeaten 38 by Keegan Petersen, leaving the home side in command at halfway.
Cape Cobras vs Highveld Lions
A brilliant all-round bowling display by the Highveld Lions helped stop the Cape Cobras in their tracks after the 4-Day Domestic Series log-leaders fell apart on the second day of their clash in Paarl on Tuesday. The home side, who have won all four matches of 2018-19 thus far for a massive lead at the top of the table, were blown away for just 138 in their first innings.
Nono Pongolo (3-29) and Aaron Phangiso (3-11) claimed three wickets apiece, while there were doubles from Nandre Burger (2-34) and Bjorn Fortuin (2-23) – the visitors dominating at Boland Park.
The Lions then reached stumps on a 104 for four to take a telling 303-run lead heading into day three. It completed a surprisingly poor day for the hosts, who started the day well enough by taking just over 10 overs to claim the final three first-inning wickets of their Johannesburg-based opponents.
Dane Piedt struck twice to end with three for 119, while the other stick went to Dane Paterson, allowing him to complete his 12th career five-for with five for 81. The Lions were bowled out for 337 and then came a consistent performance with the ball from their bowlers.
Without the suspended Beuran Hendricks, one of the leading bowlers of the season, the rest of his team-mates stood up by striking at regular intervals to blow away the Cobras in 51.1 overs. Zubayr Hamza top-scored with 56 (113 balls, five fours), but only two others – Janneman Malan (22) and Aviwe Mgijima (24) – managed double figures. It meant the Cobras were dismissed for their lowest score of the season.
To their credit, the Cobras did fight back as Stephen Cook (3), Dominic Hendricks (9), Temba Bavuma (17) and Wiaan Lubbe (23) fell cheaply in their second innings.
Rassie van der Dussen was forced to retire hurt without scoring, but Nicky van den Bergh (41 not out) kept them ahead in the game.
Piedt was the best of the bowlers, picking up two wickets for 49 runs.
Titans vs Dolphins
Just five overs were possible on the second day of the 4-Day Domestic Series encounter between the Dolphins and Titans in Durban on Tuesday as rain and bad light reigned supreme. However, it was enough time for three wickets to fall as the hosts lost their last two wickets for three runs and the visitors had Proteas opener Dean Elgar removed for a four-ball duck.
Heavy winds and persistent rain that saw the final session washed out on Monday meant the start was delayed at Kingsmead, with the play only eventually beginning in gloomy conditions after lunch.
The home side resumed on 183 for eight with key man Keshav Maharaj unbeaten on 73. But he fell in the second over after adding three to his overnight total – edging Eldred Hawken behind to Sizwe Masondo for an attacking 76 (75 balls, five fours, two sixes).
The same bowler also accounted for Okuhle Cele for a duck two balls later to end with three for 49 leaving the Dolphins all out for 186, a good recovery after being 69 for seven on the opening morning. Tshepo Moreki (3-34) and Matthew Arnold (3-49) also managed a trio of wickets each.
There was only enough time for four more overs of play with Ethan Bosch (1-0) nabbing the wicket of Elgar caught behind by Grant Roelofsen. Andrea Agathangelou (3) and Gionne Koopman (1) ensured there was no further loss with the champions closing on 4 for one – still 186 runs behind.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
