DAY 1: Dala takes five-wicket haul as Titans and Warriors jostle for control

Junior Dala registered his eighth five-wicket haul as the Multiply Titans bowled the Dafabet Warriors out for 157 in the post-lunch session of day one of their CSA 4-Day Series match at Dafabet St George's Park on Thursday. At tea, the Titans were on 31/2 at tea.

The Titans trail the Warriors by 126 runs with eight wickets in hand. The visitors had Neil Brand (13*) at the crease at the interval.

The Warriors produced an outstanding fightback, bagging two quick wickets to keep themselves in the contest after being dismissed cheaply. Duanne Olivier and Beyers Swanepoel bagged a wicket each in the afternoon period, preventing the visitors from running away with the game. 12 wickets have fallen in two sessions as neither side has been able to put pressure on the opposition with the bat.

Earlier in the day, Junior Dala and Merrick Brett wreaked havoc on the Warriors batting line-up. Dala did not feature in the Titans' two matches of the season. They brought him in when they went up against the Knights. The 34-year-old conceded runs at a reasonable rate, however, he went wicketless. Dala got his radar locked in on the target as he bagged five wickets for 27 runs in 10.3 overs in his second first-class outing of the season.

Dala ran through the Warriors batting line-up, bagging three wickets in the morning session and another two in the post-lunch period. The pacer was supported by Merrick Brett, who bagged his maiden first-class four-wicket haul. The 23-year-old was Dala's strike partner in the morning session, and like his experienced counterpart, he bagged three wickets in the period. After lunch, he took a single wicket to complete his four-wicket haul. Brett finished the innings with four wickets for 27 in 12 overs. Dayyaan Galiem took the remaining wicket in the innings.

WARRIORS: Jordan Hermann, Diego Rosier, Jean du Plessis, Matthew de Villiers, Sinethemba Qeshile (wk), Senuran Muthusamy (capt), Patrick Kruger, Beyers Swanepoel, Duanne Olivier, Alfred Mothoa, Siya Plaatjie.

TITANS: Neil Brand (capt), Joshua van Heerden, Keegan Petersen, Dewald Brevis, Sibz Makhanya, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Rivaldo Moonsamy (wk), Dayyaan Galiem, Merrick Brett, Junior Dala, Tsepo Ndwandwa.