JOHANNESBURG: Wiaan Mulder and Dominic Hendricks were outstanding with bat and ball as they set the DP World Lions up for a dominant finish on the first day of their CSA 4-Day Series match against the Moothee Ram Tuskers at the Wanderers on Monday.
Sean Gilson, the Tuskers’ captain, called correctly at the toss and elected to bat first. The visitors were like deer in the headlights on their way to being bowled out for 63 runs. The Lions issued a firm response with a score of 259 for three.
The hosts lead the visitors by 196 runs with seven wickets in hand. They had Wandile Makwetu (32*) and Wiaan Mulder (4*) at the crease at stumps.
Mulder ripped through the Tuskers’ line-up on his way to seven wickets for six runs in 6.5 overs. Four of the overs he delivered were maidens. These figures, 7-6, are his new career-best bowling figures in an innings. This is also his fourth first-class five-wicket haul.
Dominic Hendricks backed up Mulder’s performance with an impressive century. Hendricks scored 115 runs from 170 balls in his innings. This is his 19th first-class century and he faced 159 balls to get to the milestone. He shared a wonderful 179-run second-wicket partnership with Zubayr Hamza, who scored a well-paced 98 from 156 balls.
Codi Yusuf, Lutho Sipamla, and Delano Potgieter completed the list of wicket-takers for the Lions with a single wicket each. Meanwhile, none of the Tuskers’ batters went past 15 runs. Ntando Zuma was their highest scorer with 13 runs to his name. Micheal Urquhart (13), Malcolm Nofal (10), and Ben Compton (10) were the other batters who reached double figures.
DOLPHINS VS WARRIORS
DURBAN: Jordan Hermann, JP King, and Senuran Muthusamy scored a trio of half-centuries to help the Dafabet Warriors reach 323 for six at stumps in their match against the Hollywoodbets Dolphins at Kingsmead.
The Warriors, who called incorrectly at the toss, were asked to bat first by the hosts. They put their best foot forward, led by Jordan Hermann, who scored an impressive 94 from 157 deliveries. This is the left-hander’s 20th first-class half-century.
King and Moonsamy carried on Hermann’s great work with a 136-run sixth-wicket partnership later in the day. The pair almost saw the Warriors to the end of the day without further damage. Unfortunately for the visitors, King was dismissed for a 129-ball 86 just before the umpires ended the day’s play. Moonsamy was unbeaten on 79 from 106 balls at stumps.
Tristan Luus was the pick of the bowlers for the Dolphins with four wickets for 64 runs in 16.2 overs. This is his fourth four-wicket haul in first-class cricket. Nqobani Mokoena was the other wicket-taker for the hosts with two wickets for 42 runs in 15 overs.
BOLAND VS DRAGONS
PAARL: Lesiba Ngoepe and Meeka-eel Prince scored half-centuries to help the Eastvaal Renault Dragons get to 284 for five at stumps when they faced Goldrush Boland at Boland Park.
The match had a late start due to a wet outfield. The two teams only took to the field in the afternoon. The Dragons, who won the toss and chose to bat first, had Dian Forrester (44*) and Ludwich Schuld (0*) at the crease at stumps.
Ngoepe, the Dragons’ captain, gave his side a solid start with a 148-run opening partnership with Prince. Ngoepe top-scored for the Dragons with 77 runs from 105 balls. This is his 33rd first-class half-century. Meanwhile, Prince contributed 64 runs from 129 balls, and this is his third first-class half-century.
Rubin Hermann (42), Ruan de Swardt (24), and Diego Rosier (22) made handy contributions to the score with a total of 88 runs.
Aviwe Mgijima was the pick of the bowlers for Boland with two wickets for 38 runs in 12 overs. He was supported by Keith Dudgeon, Siya Mahima, and Shaun von Berg, who took a wicket each.
WESTERN PROVINCE VS TITANS
CAPE TOWN: WSB Western Province pulled together as a team as they fought to end the first day of their contest against the Momentum Multiply Titans at Newlands on the front foot.
The hosts, who were put in to bat first by the Titans, scored 241 runs. They then restricted the visitors to 19 for one at stumps. The Titans had Keegan Petersen (13*) and Niel Brand (5*) in the middle at the close of play, and they trail Western Province by 222 runs with nine wickets in hand.
Daniel Smith top-scored for Western Province with a brisk 39-ball 40. Kyle Verreynne (39), Mihlali Mpongwana (37), Joshua van Heerden (35), David Bedingham (23), and Valentine Kitime (20), rallied behind Smith as they added valuable runs for the home side.
Dane Paterson improved the hosts’ position in the match when he dismissed Lesego Senokwane for a two-ball duck. The pacer ended the day with a single wicket for 10 runs in three overs. Beuran Hendricks, his new ball partner, was yet to take a wicket and had conceded eight runs in two overs.
Junior Dala and Duan Jansen took three wickets each for the Titans. However, the pick of the bowlers was Dala, who had a slightly better economy rate after conceding 45 runs in 10 overs. Jansen went for 73 runs in 14 overs.