The Lions, Titans and the Warriors were all still in the hunt for the CSA 4-day competition trophy after the opening day of the final round of fixtures on Friday.
TITANS BOWL LIONS OUT
The Momentum Multiply Titans finally managed to bowl out the Imperial Lions for 270 at stumps, after a valiant middle- and lower-order fightback allowed the visitors to post a decent first-innings total at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
The Lions were grateful for a gritty 130-run seventh-wicket partnership led by Mitchell van Buuren, who struck an unbeaten 103 featuring 10 fours and three sixes, and backed up by Sisanda Magala (61) as they dug the Lions out of a hole after they had slipped to 118 for six.
Van Buuren and Magala resumed the Lions' innings after tea on 143 for six and took them confidently over the 200 run mark, but with them approaching 250 and having recently reached his half century, Magala was bowled by Aya Gqamane to end the resistance.
Malusi Siboto (4) then managed to stick around with Van Buuren just long enough for him to bring up his century, before the final three wickets tumbled for one run as Sibonelo Makhanya and Simon Harmer cleaned up the tail.
Gqamane, 3-45, and Harmer, 3-84, were the pick of the Titans' bowlers.
The home side will now look to get their first innings off to a good start on day two while the visitors will hope for quick wickets.
Earlier in the day the Lions reached tea in a dangerous position on 143 for six.
Having gotten off to a shaky start and reaching lunch on 62 for wo, the Lions lost a further four wickets in the second session as they slipped to 118 for six at a stage before Van Buuren and Magala stemmed the flow of wickets to get their side to tea.
Ryan Rickleton (24) and Joshua Richards (33) resumed the Lions' innings after lunch, however both fell in quick succession to Gqamane, Rickleton trapped LBW and Richards caught by keeper Heinrich Klaasen as they slipped to 79 for four.
Kagiso Rapulana (17) and Van Buuren tried to revive the innings with a 32-run fifth-wicket stand, but Rapulana was caught by Neil Brand off the bowling of Harmer and new man Bjorn Fortuin (3) edged to Klaasen off Lizaad Williams as they tumbled to 118 for six.
In the morning session the Lions won the toss and elected to bat with openers Richards and Dominic Hendricks (18) starting with a 24-run opening stand before two quick wickets set them back.
Williams had Dominic Hendricks caught by Harmer, and Reeza Hendricks could just not get going, eventually being caught by Gihahn Cloete off Corbin Bosch for an 18-ball duck as the Lions slipped to 28 for two.
Rickleton, who just returned from being a part of the Proteas squad over the past few months, got stuck in with Richards and they eased the Lions to lunch without further problems.
MOMENTUM MULTIPLY TITANS: Gihahn Cloete, Ayabulela Gqamane, Simon Harmer, Corbin Bosch, Grant Mokoena, Sibonelo Makhanya, Theunis de Bruyn, Neil Brand, Jiveshan Pillay, Heinrich Klaasen, Lizaad Williams
IMPERIAL LIONS: Joshua Richards, Dominic Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Ryan Rickleton, Kagiso Rapulana, Mitchell van Buuren, Bjorn Fortuin, Malusi Siboto, Sisanda Magala, Codi Yusuf, Tladi Bokako
BOTHA RESCUES KNIGHTS
An unbeaten counter-attacking century from Patrick Botha rescued the Knights from a perilous position as they fought back to reach stumps on 198 for seven at the end of day one against the Gbets Warriors at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein.
Botha struck a superb 107 off just 120 balls, featuring 12 fours and two sixes, as he brought the Knights back from 39 for four to be on course to post a decent total.
Rain led to a delayed start in the match, with the entire first session being washed out and the match only starting after lunch.
The Warriors then got off to a flying start, reducing the Knights to 39 for four but then Botha joined Raynard van Tonder (34) and they set about reviving the innings as they took their side to tea on 74 for four.
After the break they extended their partnership to 54 runs before Van Tonder was trapped LBW by Tiaan van Vuuren with them still in trouble on 93 for five.
Botha proceeded to dominate stands of 72 and 21 with Migael Pretorius (17) and Jason Raubenheimer (6) respectively which dragged them to their overnight score.
Earlier in the day a good start from the visitors had the Knights under the pump during the afternoon session.
Akhona Mnyaka started the slide by having Paballo Mogoera (2) trapped LBW, with Van Vuuren having Nathan Roux (5) caught by Mthiwekhaya Nabe as the Knights fell to 11 for two.
Mnyaka bowled Pite van Biljon (15) and Nabe bowled Patrick Kruger (7), as they fell to 39 for four and in deep early trouble.
Van Tonder and Botha combined to take them to tea without losing another wicket.
GBETS WARRIORS: Nathan Roux, Paballo Mogoera, Raynard van Tonder, Pite van Biljon, Patrick Kruger, Patrick Botha, Migael Pretorius, Jason Raubenheimer, Nealan van Heerden, Mbulelo Budaza, Nipho Mpungose
ITEC KNIGHTS: Eddie Moore, Wihan Lubbe, Matthew Breetzke, Lesiba Ngoepe, Rudi Second, Diego Rosier, Sinethemba Qeshile, Mthiwekhaya Nabe, Tiaan van Vuuren, Tsepo Ndwandwa, Akhona Mnyaka
DOLPHINS ON TOP AFTER PETERSEN TON
In a topsy turvy match the Dolphins enjoyed a superb final session, led by an unbeaten century from Proteas test star Keegan Petersen, to reach stumps on 272 for five on day one against the Gbets Rocks at Boland Park in Paarl.
After the Dolphins dominated the morning session, they saw the Rocks fight back in the post lunch session as Petersen (115 not out) found a willing partner in fellow Protea Andile Phehlukwayo (69 not out) and they combined for a wicketless final session leaving the Dolphins in charge.
Petersen and Phehlukwayo resumed after tea with the Dolphins on 167 for five and took them past the 200 run mark.
Petersen brought up his century and Phehlukwayo his half century, as they cruised past the 250 run mark and to the close in style.
In the post lunch session the Dolphins slipped from a strong position on 94 for one to 154 for five.
Grant Roelofsen (49) was the first to fall after lunch, caught behind by keeper Hlomla Hanabe off the bowling of Shaun von Berg, with the score 103 for two.
Marques Ackerman (35) then joined Petersen and was his usual attacking self, striking five fours in his 38-ball stay, dominating a 46-run third-wicket partnership.
However, Von Berg returned to have him caught by Pieter Malan, new man Khaya Zondo then edged the same bowler to Hanabe for a second-ball duck, and Jason Smith was bowled by Kyle Abbott for a seven-ball duck as the Dolphins crashed to 154 for five.
Phehlukwayo joined Petersen and they took their side to tea without further loss.
In the morning session the Dolphins' decision to bat after winning the toss was vindicated, despite the early loss of Bryce Parsons (two) trapped LBW by Achille Cloete, which saw them on three for one.
Petersen stroked his way to a half century, while Roelofsen backed him up as they batted their side into a strong position with an unbeaten 91-run stand going into the lunch break.
GBETS ROCKS: Cebo Tshiki, Isma-eel Gafieldien, Pieter Malan, Stiaan van Zyl, Clyde Fortuin, Hlomla Hanabe, Ferisco Adams, Shaun von Berg, Hardus Viljoen, Kyle Abbot, Zakhele Qwabe
HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Bryce Parsons, Keegan Petersen, Grant Roelofsen, Marques Ackerman, Khaya Zondo, Jason Smith, Andile Phehlukwayo, Eathan Bosch, Prenelan Subrayen, Kerwin Mungroo, Daryn Dupavillon
WESTERN PROVINCE IN CONTROL AT STUMPS
Six Gun Grill Western Province were in control of their match against the North West Dragons, reaching the close of play in a strong position on 332 for four at Newlands.
Opener Jonathan Bird (128) struck a wonderful century, but fell during the day's final session, leaving Daniel Smith (46 not out) and George Linde (six not out) at the crease at the end of play.
The hosts resumed after tea on 215 for two, with Bird and Gavin Kaplan (73) batting well, however Kaplan was then caught by Taheer Isaacs off Eldred Hawken with the score 229 for two.
Smith then joined Bird and they combined for a 57-run fourth-wicket stand, with Bird reaching his century along the way, before he was caught by Heino Kuhn off the bowling of Delano Potgieter.
Smith and Aviwe Mgijima (20 not out) were on course to take their side to the close without trouble, only for Mgijima to have to retire hurt, with Linde then helping Smith to the end of the day.
In the post lunch session Western Province resumed on 92 for two, with Bird and Gavin Kaplan then combining for an unbeaten session as they built a 123-run partnership that they took into the days final session.
At the start of play Western Province won the toss and elected to bat, which looked to be a good call despite the early dismissal of Tony de Zorzi for a seventh-ball duck, caught by Isaacs off the bowling of Potgieter.
Bird and Yaseen Vallie (44) combined for a solid 91-run second-wicket stand, that ended on the stroke of lunch as Jessie Albanie had Vallie (44) caught by Wesley Marshall to break the partnership and send the Dragons into lunch in a positive mood.
SIX GUN GRILL WESTERN PROVINCE: Gavin Kaplan, Daniel Smith, Tony de Zorzi, Yaseen Vallie, Jonathan Bird, Aviwe Mgijima, George Linde, Basheeru-Deen Walters, Kyle Simmonds, Tshepo Moreki, Beuran Hendricks
NORTH WEST DRAGONS: Lesego Senokwane, Wesley Marshall, Heino Kuhn, Nicky van den Bergh, Senuran Muthusamy, Delano Potgieter, Taheer Isaacs, Nono Pongolo, Eldred Hawken, Caleb Seleka, Jessie Albanie
DIKGALE’S DOUBLE-CENTURY PUTS HEAT IN CHARGE
Isaac Dikgale’s magnificent double-century propelled Northern Cape Heat to a 115-run lead in their match against Mpumalanga Rhinos on day two of their CSA Division 2 4-Day Series match at the Oval, in Kimberley, on Friday. Rhinos scored 267 runs on day one, after winning the toss and opting to bat first. In their reply, Heat scored 418 for six.
Wickets fell around Dikgale as he batted through the entire second day for his 207 from 331 balls. The 26-year-old was shared the highest partnership of the match so far with Victor Mahlangu, with whom he combines for a mammoth 144 runs. Mahlangu was dismissed by Alexander Kok after scoring a well-played 60 runs from 123 balls.
Day one star, Aubrey Swanepoel, who took three wickets for 54 runs for Heat, narrowly missed out on a 33rd First Class half-century when he was dismissed by Akhulile Mkhatu for a well-played 49.
On a dreadful day for bowlers, Jon Hinrichsen and Akhulile Mkhatu were Rhinos’ most successful bowlers with two wickets each. 22-year-old Hinrichsen 21 overs at an economy of 4.2, while 20-year-old Akhulile Mkhatu had a slightly higher economy of 4.66 in his 18 overs.
Dikgale (207*) was at the crease with Hanu Viljoen(30*) at stumps. Northern Cape Heat lead Mpumalanga Rhinos by 151 runs with four wickets remaining.
IMPALAS IN CONTROL
Limpopo Impalas bowled out Hollywoodbets Tuskers for 219 runs on the second day of their CSA Division 2 4-Day Series match at Pietermaritzburg Oval on Friday. Half-centuries from Tshepang Dithole and Luke Schlemmer were not enough to bring them close to Impalas’ first innings score of 330 all out. Impalas carry a 115-run lead into their second innings.
At the start of day two, Impalas had tailenders Thamsanqa Rapelego and Sithembile Langa at the crease. The duo, who added 37 runs to their overnight partnership of four runs, had a higher partnership than Tuskers’ opening pair of Michael Erlank and Tshepang Dithole who only managed an 11-run partnership.
There was hope for Tuskers when Dithole and Schlemmer combined for a 104-run third-wicket partnership. 28-year-old Dithole, who once featured for an SA Emerging Players side, contributed 48 runs to the partnership and his 27-year-old partner contributed 56 runs.
Their threatening partnership was broken by Thamsanqa Rapelego when he dismissed the left-handed Dithole for a well-played 70. Rapelego, who is playing in only his fourth First Class match, also dismissed Schlemmer for 69 in the 60th over. The 29-year-old ended the day with two wickets from his 14 overs.
Sithembile Langa was Impalas’ most successful bowler with three wickets from his 19 overs.
Limpopo Impalas lead Tuskers by 115 runs with 10 wickets remaining.
MATCH IN THE BALANCE AT RECREATION GROUND
Marco Marais’ patient half-century turned the match around for Eastern Cape Iinyathi on day two of their CSA Division 2 4-Day Series match against Six Gun Grill South Western Districts at Recreation Ground on Friday. In their reply to South Western Districts’ first innings score of 238 all out, Eastern Cape was on 195 for six at stumps.
Eastern Cape trails South Western Districts by 44 runs.
Eastern Cape started day two on the backfoot after losing the wicket of opener Jason Niemand late on day one. They were nine for the loss of one wicket at stumps. Things did not get better, if anything, they got worse. With batters sleepwalking through the innings, Eastern Cape lost four more wickets for a mere 29 runs.
When Marco Marais came to the crease, Eastern Cape was floundering on 42 for four. The 28-year-old immediately lost his partner when Jerome Bossr had to depart after a laboured 18 runs from 135 ball. The young wicketkeeper simply failed to launch.
Marais combined well with Mncedisi Malika with whom he forged a healthy 78-run sixth-wicket partnership. Their partnership was broken by former South Western Districts Under-19 player, Sintu Majeza. Marais was the man to go after scoring 56 runs from 144 deliveries.
Mncedisi Malika and Thomas Kaber’s 72-run partnership kept the ship steady for Eastern Cape. The duo was unbeaten at stumps on day two, with Malika on 47* and Kaber on 44*.
Sam Whitehead, who played a scored a brilliant half-century and combined well with captain Jean du Plessis for a 123-run partnership on day one, was South Western Districts’ best bowler of the day. Whitehead took three wickets for 34 runs in his 35 overs.
Eastern Cape Iinyathi trail South Western District by 44 runs with four wickets remaining.