LIONS BITE BACK AFTER GRITTY TUSKERS STAND
The DA World Lions enjoyed late wickets after Tian Koekemoer and Michael Erlank featured in a gritty third-wicket stand of 143 for the AET Tuskers on the first day of their CSA Four-Day Series match at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
At the close, the Tuskers were 252 for six after winning the toss and choosing to bat first with former Proteas’ paceman Duanne Olivier playing a starring role for the home team with 3/39 in 19 overs.
Tshepo Moreki gave him good support with 2-64 in 18 overs.
The two left-handers came together at a difficult time for the Tuskers after they had lost both openers for 24.
Yaseen Vallie was the first to go, thick-edging Olivier to Josh Richards in the gully who took a nice diving catch.
Ben Compton (9) was then trapped leg before by Moreki to place the visitors under early pressure.
Although progress was slow, Koekemoer and Erlank took the total to 77 at lunch and battled gamely through the afternoon session before they took tea on 158 for two.
The stand ended when skipper Erlank was caught by Mitchell van Buuren off the bowling of Malusi Siboto for 79 (168 balls, 14x4s).
Kagiso Rapulana (24) then helped Koekemoer add a further 41 before falling to Olivier.
Sadly, for Koekemoer, his staunch innings was not rewarded with a century as he became Olivier’s third victim, caught behind by wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton for 90 (265 balls, 10x4s).
Nevertheless, it was a fine effort that built on his 80 for the Tuskers last week against the Gbets Rocks.
The Lions enjoyed one last wicket, that of Thamsanqa Kumalo, caught behind by Rickelton off Moreki, before Cameron Shekleton (15) and Malcolm Nofal (11) saw the Tuskers through to the close.
DP WORLD LIONS: Bjorn Fortuin (capt), Codi Yusuf, Duanne Olivier, Joshua Richards, Malusi Siboto, Mitchell van Buuren, Muhammad Manack, Ryan Rickleton (wk), Tshepo Moreki, Wandile Makwetu, Zubayr Hamza
AET TUSKERS: Yaseen Valli, Ben Compton, Kagiso Rapulana, Tian Koekemoer, Michael Erlank (capt), Malcolm Nofal, Alindile Mhletywa, Keith Dudgeon, Thomsanga Kumalo, Cameron Shekleton, Thando Ntini.
DOLPHINS FIGHT BACK AGAINST WARRIORS
The Hollywoodbets Dolphins enjoyed a productive final session, claiming the last six Dafabet Warriors’ wickets for 42 runs as they dismissed the log-leading visitors for 267 on the first day of their CSA Four-Day Series match at Kingsmead in Durban on Wednesday.
The Dolphins were 17 without loss in reply with Sarel Erwee and Tshepang Dithole batting for eight overs.
The deficit for the home team is 250.
Earlier, the Warriors lost their last six wickets cheaply after looking in good shape on 225 for four with Rudi Second completing his 47th first-class 50 during a fourth-wicket partnership of 91 with Sinethemba Qeshile.
But then Second (65 in 121 balls, 7x4s) was caught in the slips by Erwee – his third – and the innings went into decline with Patrick Kruger and Beyers Swanepoel departing to consecutive deliveries from left-arm spinner Bryce Parsons before paceman Daryn Dupavillon chipped in with the scalps of Liam Alder (bowled without playing a stroke) and Renaldo Mayer (leg before) while Okuhle Cele finished off matters by having Qeshile leg before for 56 (103 balls, 3x4s, 4x6s).
The Dolphins began well after the Warriors had won the toss and batted first on what looked like a blameless pitch under a hot sun.
Paceman Eathan Bosch found the edge of opener Jiveshan Pillay’s bat who became Erwee’s first victim but then Jordan Hermann dominated a second-wicket stand of 58 with Andile Mokgakane, striking 10 fours and a six in his 54 in 70 balls, his ninth first-class 50.
He was unfortunate to eventually fell victim to a brilliant piece of fielding by Prenelan Subrayen.
With Hermann at the non-striker’s end, Mokgakane pushed an Eathan Bosch delivery towards extra-cover and looked to go for a quick single.
Then he changed his mind and a desperately retreating Hermann was left high and dry as Subrayen swooped and threw down the only stump available to him.
Mokgakane and Diego Rosier added 30 before Erwee leapt high to claim his second catch to claim Mokgakane’s scalp off the bowling of Andile Simelane.
Rosier was fortunate to survive immediately after lunch when he was dropped twice on 19 and 23 behind the wicket by Erwee and wicketkeeper Dithole while Qeshile was also dropped by Khaya Zondo just before tea.
Qeshile went on to strike an aggressive half-century, his 16th at this level, including four big sixes off Parsons.
Dupavillon was the most successful Dolphins’ bowler with 3-49 in 18 overs while Simelane and Parsons each took a couple of wickets.
HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Sarel Erwee (capt), Tshepang Dithole (wk), Bryce Parsons, Daryn Dupavillon, Andile Simelane, Eathan Bosch, Khaya Zondo, Jason Smith, Prenelan Subrayen, Okuhle Cele, Marques Ackerman
DAFABET WARRIORS: Rudi Second (capt), Diego Rosier, Jiveshan Pillay, Jordan Hermann, Sinethemba Qeshile (wk), Andile Mogokane, Patrick Kruger, Beyers Swanepoel, Renaldo Meyer, Liam Alder, Siya Simetu