Aiden Markram’s excellent 162 has given the Titans a 172-run lead going into day three of their Sunfoil encounter against the Dolphins.
Despite losing their first two Sunfoil Series matches, the defending champions the Titans are looking good for a first win of the season against the unbeaten Dolphins.
Lungi Ngidi’s five-for restricted the Dolphins to 207 on day one and former SA U19 skipper Markram came close to scoring that on his own, as he put on a 203-run opening stand with last year’s Player of the Season, Heino Kuhn, who contributed 88.
Markram has been somewhat off the radar over the last couple of years due to his studies and struggling to break beyond semi-professional cricket for Northerns, but this could be the innings, and indeed the season, that gets himself recognised once again after being named Player of the Tournament in the 2014 U19 World Cup.
Another huge stand of 120, with Grant Mokoena (70), stretched the hosts’ lead, before they closed on 379-5 after a couple of wickets in the evening session, one courtesy of new Proteas star Andile Phehlukwayo.
In Kimberley, meanwhile, 18-year-old prodigy Wiaan Mulder’s century headlined the day’s action as his Lions side got to 483, before a resilient Knights unit closed on 241-2 thanks to skipper Theunis de Bruyn (91), Michael Erlank (64) and David Miller, who is enjoying a fine debut for his new franchise and will go into day three on 82 off just 104 balls.
The Cobras have had a torrid start to the season on and off the field and it got worse for them on day two at Newlands as the Warriors declared on a massive 525-7 thanks to 146 from Leicestershire-bound Colin Ackermann. Paul Adams asked his senior players to step up going into this match, and thankfully for him Andrew Puttick and Omphile Ramela did, battling their way to 94-0 at the close after a taxing 46 overs in the middle as they obviously look to squeeze out a draw.
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
