Roelofsen strengthens Boland’s hold on the game

Grant Roelofsen scored a brilliant 115 as Goldrush Boland strengthened their position in the post-lunch period of day one of their CSA 4-Day Series match against the Dafabet Warriors at Boland Park on Thursday. Boland was on 202/1 at tea.

At tea, Boland had Pieter Malan (74*) and Gavin Kaplan (9*) at the crease.

Boland, who won the toss and elected to bat first, soaked up the pressure in the first session. In the afternoon period, the openers transferred the pressure onto the bowling attack. The counterattack was led by Grant Roelofsen, who was responsible for the rise in the home side's run rate.

Roelofsen faced 161 balls to reach his first hundred of the season and his first ton for Boland. His second 50 was faster than the first. Roelofsen faced 99 deliveries to reach 50 and only 62 to reach the century. The opener was dismissed after scoring a magnificent 115 off 171 deliveries. He had shared a 191-run opening partnership with Pieter Malan.

Unlike Roelofsen, who was more attacking, Malan played a more measured innings. The 35-year-old opener patiently worked his way to a 56th first-class half-century. He faced 117 balls to reach the milestone. He was the foil to Roelofsen's stroke play.

Senuran Muthusamy was the sole wicket-taker for the Warriors in the post-lunch period. The spinner took one wicket for 74 runs in 23 overs. Despite being wicketless, Siya Plaatjie bowled well in his 11 overs, conceding only 25 runs.

BOLAND: Grant Roelofsen, Pieter Malan, Gavin Kaplan, Aviwe Mgijima, Clyde Fortuin (capt)(wk), Michael Copeland, Shaun von Berg, Keith Dudgeon, Jevano Baron, Ayabulela Gqamane, Glenton Stuurman

WARRIORS: Jordan Hermann, Jean du Plessis, Matthew Breetzke (capt), Matthew de Villiers, Sinethemba Qeshile (wk), Senuran Muthusamy, Andile Mogakane, Ethan Frosler, Duanne Olivier, Jason Raubenheimer, Siyabulela Plaatjie.