DAY 3: Smith blitz Warriors; Lions take charge

SMITH BLITZ BLOODIES WARRIORS

Jason Smith smashed seven sixes and six fours in a lightning 96 that gave the Hollywoodbets Dolphins a first-innings lead of 192 on the third day of their CSA Four-Day Series match against the Dafabet Warriors at Kingsmead on Friday.

Smith’s burst of scoring enabled the Dolphins to declare their first innings on 459 for nine and the home team underlined their advantage by then claiming the wicket of left-handed opener Jiveshan Pillay who edged offspinner Prenelan Subrayen to Marques Ackerman at slip who claimed the catch after a brief juggle.

The Warriors finished the day on 45 for one, still trailing the Dolphins by 147 runs with nine second-innings wickets in hand. Aggressive opener Jordan Hermann, who struck Subrayen for six over long-on, is unbeaten on 31 having also hit five fours.

Smith, after a measured start to his innings, launched a blitz on the Warriors’ bowlers as he began to run out of partners. The allrounder finally perished in the deep at long-on, attempting to reach his hundred with another maximum offspinner Siya Simetu, and skipper Sarel Erwee immediately called his players in.

Simetu, who suffered, along with other bowlers, from Smith's onslaught, could at least celebrate a five-wicket haul (5/95 in 23.3 overs) – his second at this level.

Earlier, Erwee struck his first hundred of the season, and his 13th overall, as the home team resumed on their overnight total of 158 for one, chasing the Warriors’ first-innings total of 267.

The 34-year-old Erwee has had a moderate season, notching two fifties and averaging under 30, but over the last two days, in partnerships with Ackerman and Bryce Parsons, he has shown all his old abilities.

On Thursday evening, after a slow start, he and Ackerman played superbly, adding 140 with some fluent strokeplay. In the morning they took the partnership past the 150-mark before Ackerman was caught behind for 67 (98 balls, 8x4s) to give paceman Beyers Swanepoel his second wicket. Their excellent partnership of 153 had taken 222 balls and 161 minutes.

Erwee went to his hundred with a sumptuous cover drive off Patrick Kruger and his achievement was greeted with some enthusiasm in his dressing-room. He and Bryce Parsons took their third-wicket partnership to 61 before Erwee departed, edging a square cut to the first ball delivered by left-arm spinner Simetu. He had batted nearly five hours and 207 balls for his 112 in a fine innings that included 12 fours and two sixes. During his innings, the former Proteas opener also celebrated passing 7000 runs in first-class cricket.

The Dolphins began to build a lead shortly after lunch with Parsons making 69 (130 balls, 7x4s) and Khaya Zondo 33. The pitch was easy-paced and placid, with only the occasional ball deviating from the norm.

The Lions did well to exert some control over the batsmen, however, claiming four wickets for 104 in the session with Simetu adding three more scalps to that of centurion Sarel Erwee in the morning. He bowled Parsons, had Zondo leg before reverse-sweeping and, with the last ball before tea, had Andile Simelane caught behind by wicketkeeper Sinethemba Qeshile to a delivery that turned and bounced. Rudi Second captured the other wicket to fall, bowling Eathan Bosch (19) with a ball that kept low.

It was then that Smith turned on the after-burners, exploding into action as the need for an early declaration became evident. His innings of 96 came in just 106 balls after he had taken his time in playing himself in.

LIONS ON TOP AFTER TONS BY HAMZA AND VAN BUUREN 

Centuries by Zubayr Hamza and Mitchell van Buuren and two late wickets in the second innings of the AET Tuskers enabled the DP World Lions to take charge of the match on the third day of their CSA Four-Day Series match at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday.

The Lions were dismissed for 435 in their first innings, a lead of 90, and the Tuskers had to face an awkward hour at the crease before the close.

Yusuf made an early breakthrough when he had Yaseen Valli caught behind by Ryan Rickelton for three and then Tshepo Moreki bowled the nightwatchman, Thamsanqa Kumalo, for one.

Ben Compton, who struck four boundaries in his unbeaten 27, and skipper Michael Erlank (5), survived to the close. Their team still trails the Lions by 45 runs and the visitors have a lot of work to do to earn a draw on Saturday.

Hamza and Van Buuren had eased their team out of a tight spot on Thursday when the first three Lions’ wickets fell for 43. The pair then added 183 in 47 overs to turn the game around and place their team in the driving seat.

Hamza struck 101 in 152 balls, including 13 fours, before he offered a catch to Cameron Shekleton off the bowling of Tuskers’ skipper Michael Erlank. It was the prolific batsman’s second ton of the season and his 17th overall.

Van Buuren also went on to strike his second hundred of the season, and his fifth overall. After Hamza’s departure, he received support from Wandile Makwetu (34), Bjorn Fortuin (14) and Malusi Siboto (34).

Van Buuren was eventually dismissed, caught by Cameron Shekleton off the bowling of Alindile Mhletywa for 132 (262 balls, 13x4s, 1x6). Codi Yusuf then went on to stretch the Lions’ first-innings lead with an aggressive 37.

Spinner Malcolm Nofal was the most successful of the Tuskers' bowlers, taking 3/86, while Keith Dudgeon, Erlank and Thando Ntini each claimed two.

DP WORLD LIONS: Bjorn Fortuin (capt), Codi Yusuf, Duanne Olivier, Joshua Richards, Malusi Siboto, Mitchell van Buuren, Muhammad Manack, Ryan Rickleton (wk), Tshepo Moreki, Wandile Makwetu, Zubayr Hamza

AET TUSKERS: Yaseen Valli, Ben Compton, Kagiso Rapulana, Tian Koekemoer, Michael Erlank (capt), Malcolm Nofal, Alindile Mhletywa, Keith Dudgeon, Thomsanga Kumalo, Cameron Shekleton, Thando Ntini.

Report Day 1