DAY 1: Strong starts for Dragons, Dolphins, Warriors and WP

NORTH WEST DRAGONS v AET TUSKERS

A quartet of half-centuries from Grant Mokoena, Lesiba Ngoepe, Rubin Hermann and Meeka-eel Prince helped the North West Dragons reach a first innings total of 431 on day one of their CSA 4-day Challenge match against the AET Tuskers at the JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, on Thursday. 

The Tuskers trail by 431 runs with 10 wickets in hand.

The home side, who lost the toss and were asked to bat first by the visitors, enjoyed a strong start to their innings, thanks to an 86-run opening stand by Lesego Senokwane and Grant Mokoena.

That partnership was succeeded by a 75-run second-wicket partnership between Mokoena and Lesiba Ngoepe.

Both Mokoena and Ngoepe crossed the 50-run mark but failed to convert the half-centuries to triple-figure scores.

Mokoena smashed 11 fours on his way to 74 off 97 and Ngoepe breezed to a brisk 79 off 89 that featured 14 fours.

Ngoepe and Mokoena lost their wickets 12.5 overs apart to Alindile Mhletywa and Keith Dudgeon, respectively.

The void left by the departure of the pair was filled by Rubin Hermann.

The 26-year-old adopted a more circumspect approach to the game. He batted his way to a career-best 78 off 121 deliveries.

SIX WICKETS FOR DUDGEON

The half-century is the former Northerns wicketkeeper's sixth in first-class cricket.

The wait for a ton continues for Hermann. At that point, the Dragons looked certain to reach 500 runs in their first innings.

However, that forecast was foiled by Keith Dudgeon. The Tuskers pacer bowled an inspired spell that caused a middle-order collapse for the Dragons.

Dudgeon dismissed Hermann, Wihan Lubbe, Senuran Muthusamy and Migael Pretorius in four overs for 13 runs.

Meeka-eel Prince, who is playing in his third first-class match, launched a counter-attacking innings and shared a fruitful eighth-wicket partnership with Duan Jansen that yielded 61 runs off 97 deliveries.

Prince's maiden first-class half-century, 64 runs off 79 balls, featured seven fours and a single six.

After Prince's dismissal, the Tuskers did not dilly-dally before getting the final wicket of CJ King, who was trapped lbw by Malcolm Nofal for two off 11 balls.

Keith Dudgeon was the Tuskers' most successful bowler. The 28-year-old registered his 12th first-class five-wicket haul.

He ended the day with figures of six wickets for 102 runs in 18 overs.

Alindile Mhletywa took two wickets for 67 runs in 14 overs while Malcolm Nofal and Thando Ntini bagged a wicket each.

Dragons: Lesego Senokwane, Grant Mokoena, Lesiba Ngoepe, Rubin Hermann, Wihan Lubbe, Senuran Muthusamy, Meeka-eel Prince, Migael Pretorius, Duan Jansen, CJ King, Kerwin Mungroo.

Tuskers: Ben Compton, Kagiso Rapulana, Tian Koekemoer, Michael Erlank, Pite van Biljon, Malcolm Nofal, Alindile Mhletywa, Keith Dudgeon, Thamsanqa Khumalo, Dilivio Ridgard, Thando Ntini.

GBETS ROCKS v HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS

Jason Smith shepherded the Hollywoodbets Dolphins to 321 for four on day one of their CSA 4-day Challenge match against the Gbets Rocks at Eurolux Boland Park, Paarl, on Thursday.

Smith, who celebrated his 24th half-century, scored a patient unbeaten 72 off 148 that featured five fours and a single six.

The 29-year-old batter led the Dolphins' quartet of half-centuries that put the visitors on the front foot.

Tshepang Dithole was the first to reach the milestone.

The opener shared a 66-run opening stand with Sarel Erwee and a 98-run second-wicket partnership with Marques Ackerman as he accumulated 60 runs off 131 balls.

Dithole eventually fell to Aviwe Mgijima's bowling in the 45th over. 

Ackerman's stay in the middle was short-lived after Dithole's dismissal. 

He followed his partner back to the pavilion four balls after Dithole had lost his wicket. He had raced to 67 off 79 deliveries.

TWO WICKETS AND FIVE MAIDEN OVERS FOR MAHIMA

Grant Roelofsen was the fourth Dolphins batter to go past the 50-run mark and fail to convert it to triple figures.

Roelofsen hit seven fours and a single six on his way to 51 off 116 after sharing a 94-run fourth-wicket partnership with Jason Smith.

Following Roelofsen's departure, Smith joined forces with Slade van Staden for an unbeaten 63-run fifth-wicket partnership. At stumps, Van Staden was unbeaten on 28 off 59.

Siyabonga Mahima was the pick of the Rocks' bowlers with two wickets for 72 runs in 25 overs.

The spinner delivered five maiden overs, the most by bowled on the day.

Glenton Stuurman, who might consider himself a little unlucky to have gone wicketless on day one, bowled the second-most maidens with four.

Aviwe Mgijima and Shaun Von Berg bagged a single wicket each.

Rocks: Janneman Malan, Stiaan van Zyl, Pieter Malan (c), Jason Oakes, Aviwe Mgijima, Ferisco Adams, Shaun Von Berg, Glenton Stuurman, Siya Mahima, Achille Cloete, Akhona Mnyaka.

Dolphins: Sarel Erwee, Tshepang Dithole, Marques Ackerman, Grant Roelofsen, Jason Smith, Andile Phehlukwayo, Ottniel Baartman, Prenelan Subrayen, Jon-Jon Smuts, Okuhle Cele, Slade van Staden.

DAFABET WARRIORS v DP WORLD LIONS

The Dafabet Warriors were in complete control despite a late charge by the DP World Lions to reach 341/7 at stumps on day one of their CSA 4-Day Series clash at St George’s Park on Thursday.

A fourth First Class century by Tristan Stubbs alongside a hard fought 65 from Jiveshan Pillay was the catalyst that saw the Warriors dominate much of the day’s proceedings.

When stumps were drawn, Beyers Swanepoel (16 runs off 14 balls) and Renaldo Meyer (9 off 12) were still unbeaten at the crease.

Wiaan Mulder, Cody Yusuf and Malusi Siboto ended the day with figures of 2050, 2-62 and 2-54 respectively while Kwena Maphaka ended with 1-87 in what was a tough day in the field for the visitors

Earlier, the Warriors won the toss and chase to bat first on a sunny day in Gqeberha and despite the constant wind blowing across the ground, their batters made conditions look very easy to play in.

Losing left-handed opener Jordan Hermann for a brace in the third over bowled by Wiaan Mulder, fellow opener Jiceshan Pillay and captain Matthew Breetzke resurrected the innings as the home side navigated their way to 62/1 at lunch.

Continuing after the break, Breetzke added just 17 runs to his total before he fell to Kwena Maphaka with the score on 89, having achieved a well played 42 from 92, including seven boundaries.

FOURTH FIRST-CLASS TON FOR STUBBS 

The end of their 87-run partnership saw the introduction of Tristan Stubbs, who together with Pillay, took the hosts past 150 as both men chalked up valuable half centuries for their side.

Pillay faced 183 balls for his 65 runs, including eight boundaries and two sixes, before he was Mulder’s second victim, caught behind by wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton shortly before the tea break and the home side on 167/3.

Stubbs and Rudi Second guided them safely to tea, and resumed their partnership as Stubbs registered his fourth First Class century with a single off Bjorn Fortuin.

The pair added 94 runs, taking the team score to 263 when Codi Yusuf struck, trapping Second on his crease, the umpire agreed with the appeal to send the veteran back to the dugout for 35..

Sinethemba Qeshile lasted just 11 deliveries, hitting one boundary before Yusuf trapped him in front of his stumps for a measly seven.

Stubbs and Kruger shared 33 to take the Warriors past 300 before the latter was trapped leg before wicket by Malusi Siboto for a run a ball 20.

Siboto then found the inside edge of Stubbs’s bat, which cannoned back onto his stumps to end on 130 from 160 balls, including 17 fours and two sixes and the Warriors on 313/7 as Swanepoel and Meyer saw out the final embers of the day’s play.

WESTERN PROVINCE v MOMENTUM MULTIPLY TITANS

Centuries by Western Province captain Kyle Verreynne and Eddie Moore was the driving force that saw the hosts post 350 all out in their CSA 4-Day Series clash against the Momentum Multiply TItans in Cape Town on Thursday.

Verreynne scored 150 runs from 123 balls including 15 fours and three sixes, while Moore chalked up a second century in as many matches, registering 116 from 123 balls including 17 fours and a maximum.

Chasing a 350-run first innings deficit, the Titans got off to a slow start, scoring just 10 runs from the first 6.2 overs before Matthew Kleinveldt fell for eight runs, caught by WP wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne off Nandre Burger.

When stumps were drawn, the Titans sat precariously on 25/1, still 325 runs behind with nine wickets in hand with Dean Elgar (8 runs off 44 balls) and Joshua van Heerden (9 off 24) still unbeaten in the middle.

Winning the toss and choosing to bat first, WP made early inroads into the Titans attack, as openers Eddie Moore and Daniel Smith shared 58 runs for the opening wicket.

Smith fell for 21, bowled by right-arm quick Merrick Brett, with the next two wickets falling in quick succession as Junior Dala removed Yaseen Vallie for five runs, caught by wicketkeeper Rivaldo Moonsamy before Brett struck again to remove Valentine Kitime for a single, caught by Donovan Ferreira with WP on 70/3.

Moore and skipper Kyle Verreynne guided their side to lunch on 117/3 and continued their run-scoring exploits as Verreynne struck a boundary to bring up 150 for WP, before crossing the 50 run mark himself a few balls later.

150 FOR VERRYENNE

Moore notched up a second century in as many matches when he dispatched Dala to the boundary, a shot that also saw their partnership move past 150 runs.

Their 183-run partnership was finally broken when Gqamane had Moore caught by Joshua van Heerden for 116 off 123 including 17 boundaries and a six.

They lost Juan James off the very next delivery, for a golden duck just as the home side fell to 253/5.

The ginger-haired wicketkeeper batsman brought up his eighth FC century with a single.

He shared 21 runs with Kyle Simmonds before the latter was caught by Moonsamy for eight runs off Titans captain Lizaad Williams, with Beuran Hendricks (5) falling 10 runs later with the score on 284/7 shortly before tea.

Verreynne and Nandre Burger saw WP cross the 300 run mark before Burger was bowled by Dala for seven, while Verreynne reached 150 off 121, including 15 boundaries and three sixes before he was sent packing by Gqamane with the score on 337.

150 up Kyle Verreynne! 🏏👏🔥#WPcricket #westernprovince #BoyInBlue💙 #4DaySeries pic.twitter.com/jDymxjJRXu — Western Province Men (@WP_Blitz) November 30, 2023

Kenan Smith was the final wicket to fall when Gqamane grabbed his fourth wicket of the innings, caught by Van Heerden to dismiss the hosts.

Gqamane claimed 4-80 from 12.5 overs, while Dala claimed 3-66, and Brett finished with 2-52 from 13 overs.

WP: Daniel Smith, Eddie Moore, Yaseen Callie, Valentine Kitime, Kyle Verreynne [C,WK], Juan James, Kyle zsimmonds, Beuran Hendricks, Nandre Burger, Mthiwekhaya Nabe, Kenan Smith

Titans: Matthew Kleinveldt, Dean Elgar, Joshua van Heerden, Dewald Brevis, Sibonelo Makhanda, Donovan Ferreira, Rivaldo Moonsamy [WK], Ayabulela Gqamane, Merrick Brett, Junior Dala, Lizaad Williams [C].