The Renault North West Dragons and Hollywoodbets Dolphins were well poised at stumps on day one of their CSA 4-Day Series match with the visitors reaching the close of play on 276/7 in their first innings at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead on Thursday afternoon.
Four half centuries from the Dragons middle order helped them fight back from a disastrous start, and they are now set to reach a score in excess of 300 on the second morning.
Rubin Hermann (65) top scored for the Dragons and it was his 113-run sixth-wicket partnership with Ruan de Swardt (58*) that put them into a strong position in the days final session, before two late wickets set them back.
Captain Wihan Lubbe (59) and Raynard van Tonder (54) had earlier shared in a 110-run fourth-wicket stand that had rescued the visitors from a perilous 27-3 in the morning session after they had won the toss and chosen to bat.
Matthew Kleinveldt (7) and Janneman Malan (8) shared in a first- wicket stand of 15, before both fell within four balls of each other, Kleinveldt caught by Sarel Erwee off the bowling of Okuhle Cele, and Malan edging Daryn Dupavillon to keeper Hanu Viljoen, leaving them on 15-2 in the seventh over.
Khaya Zondo (9) didn’t last long either, hitting two fours before Dolphins captain Keshav Maharaj pinned him LBW, as they slipped to 27-3.
That brought Lubbe in to join Van Tonder and they set about reviving the innings and taking their side to lunch on 93-3.
In the post lunch session Lubbe and Van Tonder extended their stand, with both batters reaching their fifties, before Prenelan Subrayen made the breakthrough, catching Lubbe off his own bowling.
The spinner then bowled Van Tonder a few overs later as the Dragons slipped to 147-5, which brought Hermann in to join De Swardt and took the Dragons to tea on 171-5.
In the day's final session Hermann and De Swardt looked in good touch as they took their side past 200 and 250, bringing up their half centuries along the way, before Subrayen trapped Hermann LBW, with the score 259-6.
Bamanye Xenxe (2) didn’t stick around, edging Dupavillon to Viljoen shortly before the close of play, with Caleb Seleka (1*) and De Swardt getting to the close and they will resume on Friday morning.
HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Tshepang Dithole Sarel Erwee, Khaya Zondo, Bryce Parsons, Jason Smith, Romashan Pillay, Hanu Viljoen (wk), Prenelan Subrayen, Keshav Maharaj (capt), Okuhle Cele, Darryn Dupavillon
RENAULT NORTH WEST DRAGONS: Matthew Kleinveldt, Janneman Malan (wk), Lesiba Ngoepe, Raynard van Tonder, Wihan Lubbe (capt), Ruan de Swardt, Rubin Hermann, Bamanye Xenxe, Caleb Seleka, Odirile Modimokoane, Lutendo Tsanwani