Mitchell van Buuren struck an undefeated 109 – his third first-class century – to help the DP World Lions make a superb recovery to finally total 327 for six on the first day of their opening CSA 4-Day Series match at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.
Considering that the visitors were 97 for four at lunch having lost two wickets for five runs to paceman Dane Paterson, the Lions’ final tally was impressive.
Province skipper Kyle Verreynne had earlier won the toss and put his opponents into bat.
He was rewarded with the early dismissal of Dominic Hendricks for eight, caught Kyle Simmons off the bowling of Beuran Hendricks, before Josh Richards (35) and Zubayr Hamza added 50 for the second wicket.
But then Richards was out for 30 off the bowling of Mthiwekhaya Nabe, before Paterson struck, claiming the prize scalps of Hamza and Ryan Rickelton just before lunch, both caught behind by Verreynne.
At that stage, the innings looked in poor shape with Wiaan Mulder and Van Buuren looking to rebuild the innings.
The pair added 52 for the fifth wicket in the afternoon, but when Muller was dismissed by Nandre Burger for 30, half the side was out for 149.
The key partnership was to come, however, with Van Buuren and Wandile Makwetu adding 130 for the sixth wicket before Makwetu was finally castled by Hendricks for a valuable 44 in 107 balls, including six fours.
The recovery continued at an even quicker rate after Makwetu’s departure, thanks to a brisk unbeaten 38 in 53 balls (8x4s) by Bjorn Fortuin.
He and Van Buuren were still together at the close having added an unbroken 48 for the seventh wicket.
Van Buuren has so far struck 12 fours and a six in his innings that has spanned 193 balls.
Hendricks (2-52 in 18 overs) and Paterson (2-70 in 22 overs) have been the main strike bowlers for Western Province.
🦁 Day 1 at Newlands. ✅
— DP World Lions (@LionsCricketSA) November 4, 2023
Super fight back by the boys takes us into Day 2 on 327/6.
Van Buuren 109*
Fortuin 38*
Makwetu 44 #4DaySeries #WozaNawe #LionsCricket #ThePrideOfJozi pic.twitter.com/Vs3uxePm6l
WESTERN PROVINCE: Beuran Hendricks, Dane Paterson, David Bedingham, Edward Moore, Juan James, Kyle Simmonds, Kyle Verreynne (capt, wk), Mthiwekhaya Nabe, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Valentine Kitime
DP WORLD LIONS: Joshua Richards, Dominic Hendricks, Zubayr Hamza, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Mitchell van Buuren, Wandile Makwetu, Bjorn Fortuin, Malusi Siboto, Duanne Olivier, Tshepo Moreki