DAY 1: Simmonds blitz lifts WP, while rain disrupts play elsewhere

TUSKERS v WESTERN PROVINCE 

Pietermaritzburg: Kyle Simmonds launched a sensational lower-order blitz to catapult WSB Western Province to 275-7 at stumps on the first day of their CSA 4-day Series encounter against the Moothee Ram Tuskers at Pietermaritzburg Oval on Tuesday.

Simmonds smashed eight fours and a single six as he raced to a 39-ball 60. This is his ninth first-class half-century and it came at a crucial time for the visitors, who looked in trouble for most of the day.

Western Province, who won the toss and chose to bat first, struggled to get a proper foothold in the first 30 overs.

Their top three batters, Jono Bird (28), Kashief Joseph (17) and Juan James (35) got starts but failed to kick on.

It wasn’t until Daniel Smith (61) and Valentine Kitime (52) joined forces that Western Province found stability.

The pair shared a 61-run fifth-wicket partnership that created a platform for Simmonds to launch from.

Ziyaad Abrahams, Sean Gilson and Sean Whitehead finished the day with two wickets each.

Abrahams and Whitehead combined to dismiss Western Province’s top four batters, while Gilson came in to halt Simmonds’s march of destruction later in the day.

Abrahams took two wickets for 56 runs in 14 overs, while Gilson ended the day with 2-52 runs in 13 overs and took 2-62 in 13 overs.

WARRIORS v NORTH WEST

Potchefstroom: Matthew Boast led the charge as the Dafabet Warriors restricted the Eastvaal Renault Dragons to 149-5 when the two sides met at the JB Marks Oval.

The Dragons, who won the toss and chose to bat first, had Ruan de Swart (17*) and Dian Forrester (17*) in the middle at the close of play.

The contest was disrupted by rain shortly after lunch and the teams did not return to the field afterwards.

Matthew Boast ensured that the Dragons did not start on the front foot with three early wickets.

The pacer accounted for Lesiba Ngoepe (19), Janneman Malan (10, and Raynard van Tonder (9) before they could get their eye in.

The pacer finished the day with three wickets for 36 runs in 14 overs.

Boast had support from Duanne Olivier and Aphiwe Mnyanda, who finished with a wicket each.

Meeka-eel Prince (31) and Wihan Lubbe (35) looked a class apart from their teammates, but sadly lost their wickets before they could capitalise on their starts.

Prince lost his wicket pushing at a wide delivery from Olivier, while Lubbe was trapped lbw while trying off the back foot against Mnyanda.

LIONS v BOLAND

Johannesburg: Zubayr Hamza and Dominic Hendricks scored solid half-centuries to lift the DP World Lions to 135-2 when they locked horns with Goldrush Boland at the DP World Wanderers.

The two sides only managed to get two sessions in before rains disrupted play.

The Lions, who won the toss and elected to bat first, had Hamza (66*) and Wiaan Mulder (3*) at the crease at stumps.

Hamza joined Hendricks in the middle in the second over, absorbed the early pressure, consolidated, and mounted a 120-run second-wicket partnership that put the hosts in control.

Their union collapsed when Hendricks misjudged an Aya Gqamane delivery that swung in and knocked off his bails.

Hendricks fell for a well-played 51 from 84, while Hamza was unbeaten on 66 from 75 balls.

Mnyaka and Gqamane were Boland’s wicket-takers with a single scalp each.

Mnyaka finished the day with 1-35 runs in eight overs and Gqamane had a single wicket for 39 runs in five overs.

TITANS v DOLPHINS

Centurion: Duan Jansen and Janco Smith took a combined six wickets to help the Momentum Multiply Titans reduce the Hollywoodbets Dolphins to 88-8 when the two sides crossed swords at SuperSport Park.

The pair shared the new ball and ensured that the Dolphins, who won the toss and chose to bat first, did not get any traction in their innings.

The seamers hit good areas with the ball and had the visitors struggling on 30-4 after 12.4 overs.

The Dolphins had Eathan Bosch (8*) and Tristan Luus (1*) at the crease at stumps.

The two sides left the field in the post-lunch session due to rain and did not return.

Jansen, who finished the day with three wickets for 17 runs in 9.5 overs, was the more destructive of the pair early on.

He accounted for three of the first four wickets, dismissing Tshepang Dithole (12), Romashan Pillay and Khaya Zondo.

Smit finished his first spell with a single wicket then he returned to bag another two wickets in his second spell.

He dismissed Marques Ackerman, Semal Pillay (23) and Andile Simelane to finish the day with three wickets for 17 runs in seven overs.

Pillay was the only batter to get to 20 runs. Hanu Viljeon (17) and Dithole were the only other two batters to reach double figures.