RAIN WASHES OUT ENTIRE AFTERNOON SESSION OF LIONS V KNIGHTS
The Imperial Lions' charge was again halted by the rain as no play was possible in the entire afternoon session of their 4-day match against the ITEC Knights at New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday, with the hosts on 193 for three in their first innings.
The only possible play was in the morning, with the Lions managing to stretch their first-innings lead over the Knights to 69 runs before bad light saw the teams take an early lunch, with the rest of the day then washed out and stumps being called at tea.
If the teams are able to take the field on Sunday’s final day Joshua Richards, who brought up an impressive century, and Wiaan Mulder, who is yet to score, will resume for the hosts.
After play was only possible during the morning session on day two, with the Lions on 150 for two in response to the Knights' 124 all out, the entire afternoon session was then washed out, with the home side resuming their innings on day three.
Opener Richards continued his solid form and eased his way to an unbeaten 100 off 208 balls (11x4) as along with Kagiso Rapulana (58) they extended their third-wicket stand to 125 runs.
Rapulana was caught behind by Mangaliso Mosehle off the bowling of Nealan van Heerden, leaving them on 187 for three with Mulder joining Richards and easing to an early lunch soon after.
IMPERIAL LIONS: Joshua Richards, Dominic Hendricks, Karabo Mogotsi, Kagiso Rapulana, Wiaan Mulder, Mitchell Van Buuren, Bjorn Fortuin, Ruan Haasbroek (wk), Malusi Siboto (c), Duanne Olivier, Codi Yusuf
ITEC KNIGHTS: Matthew Kleinveldt, Jacques Snyman (wk), Wandile Makwetu, Pite van Biljon, Farhaan Behardien, Patrick Kruger, Mangaliso Mosehle, Gerald Coetzee, Alfred Mothoa, Nealan van Heerden, Keith Dudgeon
TITANS HOLD LEAD OVER ROCKS
The Momentum Multiply Titans ended day three with a solid 170-run lead in their second innings over the Gbets Rocks at Boland Park in Paarl on Saturday, as the visitors reached an early close of play on 96 for three.
As with all the other games being played around the country, this one has also been affected by adverse weather and having a delayed start they also had an early end due to it.
Having cleaned up the Rocks' lower order before and making it to tea on 49 for two, Neil Brand (32no) and Gihahn Cloete (28) continued after the break, extending their third-wicket stand to 56 runs before Cloete was bowled by Shaun von Berg with the score 79 for three.
Sibonelo Makhanya (11 not out) joined Brand and they added 17 runs before the weather intervened to end the day.
In the post lunch session the Rocks were bowled all out for 234 in their first innings, a deficit of 74 runs on the Titans' first innings, but managed to strike with two early wickets to pull the visitors back.
Openers Dean Elgar (5) and Grant Mokoena (17) shared in a 23-run opening stand only for both to fall within six balls of each other, with Elgar trapped LBW by Hardus Viljoen and Mokoena bowled by Von Berg, with Brand and Cloete then combining to take their side to tea.
After lunch the Rocks had resumed their innings on 184 for six, but three quick wickets saw Corbin Bosch account for Hardus Viljoen (1) and Siyabonga Mahima (6), while Christiaan Jonker was pinned LBW by Aya Gqamane between the two, as the Rocks crashed to 196 for nine.
Opener Isma-eel Gafieldien (97) received some vital lower-order help from last man Zakhele Qwabe (19 not out) as they added 38 runs for the last wicket, only for Gafieldien to be bowled by Siom Harmer just three runs short of what would have been a deserved fighting century.
Gqamane, 3-41, Harmer, 3-52, Dayyaan Galiem, 2-39, and Bosch, 2-45, all contributed to an all-round bowling effort.
In the morning session the Titans stopped the Rocks in their tracks with two quick wickets just before lunch.
After a weather affected day two, day three also saw a delay to the start of play before the home side resumed their first innings on 142 for four with Gafieldien and Ferisco Adams (44) at the crease.
The pair increased their fifth-wicket partnership to 72 runs before Adams was bowled by Gqamane as they slipped to 171 for five shortly before lunch.
However, there was still time for new man Shaun von Berg (3) to be trapped LBW by Harmer, bringing Viljoen in to join Gafieldien and they negotiated the final few balls to get to the break.
GBETS ROCKS: Clyde Fortuin (wk), Isma-eel Gafieldien, Christiaan Jonker (c), Cebo Tshiki, Ferisco Adams, Stiaan van Zyl, Shaun von Berg, Hardus Viljoen, Zakhele Qwabe, Siyabonga Mahima, Sinalo Gobeni
MOMENTUM MULTIPLY TITANS: Grant Mokoena, Dean Elgar, Neil Brand (c), Gihahn Cloete (wk), Sibonelo Makhanya, Jiveshan Pillay, Dayyaan Galiem, Chris Morris, Corbin Bosch, Ayabulela Gqamane, Simon Harmer
RAIN WASHES OUT ENTIRE THIRD DAY OF DOLPHINS-DRAGONS CLASH
Persistent rain saw the entire third day of the North West Dragons match against the Hollywoodbets Dolphins at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom washed out on Saturday, with the game set to head for an inevitable draw on the final day if play is possible.
There was no play possible in the morning session due to the inclement weather, with the teams taking an early lunch, before the day's play was finally called early in the afternoon.
If play continues on Sunday’s final day the Dragons will resume their first innings on four for no loss with openers Lesego Senokwane, who is yet to score, and Wesley Marshall (four not out) at the crease.
The first two days of play were also heavily impacted by rain, with the Dolphins managing 400 for nine declared in their first innings, thanks to positive contributions from Marques Ackerman (123), Ruan de Swardt (71), Bryce Parsons (65) and Keegan Petersen (54).
The Dragons' standout bowler was Delano Potgieter, 5-85, while Senokwane chipped in with 2-40.
NORTH WEST DRAGONS: Lesego Senokwane, Wesley Marshall, Christopher Britz, Shaylen Pillay, Delano Potgieter, Nono Pongolo (c), Taheer Isaacs (wk), Duan Jansen, Eldred Hawken, Johannes Diseko, Jesse Albanie
HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Marques Ackerman (c), Prenelan Subrayen, Keegan Petersen, Thamsanqa Khumalo, Junaid Syed, Robin Smith, Kerwin Mungroo, Ruan De Swardt, Hlompo Modimokoane, Eathan Bosch, Bryce Parsons