Hermann takes charge of the post-lunch session

Jordan Hermann registered his 11th first-class half-century as he led the Dafabet Warriors to tea with a score of 179/4 in their CSA 4-Day Series match against the Renault Potchefstroom North West Dragons at Dafabet St George's Park on Thursday afternoon.

At tea, Hermann was unbeaten on 99 off 181. He was in the company of Matthew de Villiers, who was on 38 off 71.

Given the start the home side had, losing three wickets before lunch, it looked likely that the trend would continue in the second session. However, the Warriors captain found a willing partner in Matthew de Villiers, with whom he constructed an unbroken 95-run partnership. It was during the partnership that he celebrated reaching 1500 runs in first-class cricket.

Hermann showed why he is highly rated as he repelled the Dragons' attack while he watched wickets tumble at the other end. He added 58 runs in the period after lunch. Unfortunately for the Dragons, Sinethemba Qeshile was unable to produce the same kind of knock.

Qeshile added a single run to his pre-lunch tally. He was dismissed for 27 off 40. He had shared a 50-run partnership with Hermann, which had stabilised things for the home side. Before the duo's partnership, the Warriors had lost three wickets for 34 runs in 17.5 overs. The first of those wickets was Jiveshan Pillay, who fell for a duck in the first over. Andile Mogakane (5) barely got his eye in before he had to depart, and Jean du Plessis (4) suffered a similar fate.

Ruan de Swardt is currently the most successful bowler for the Dragons with two wickets for 27 runs in 13 overs. Migael Pretorius and Bamanye Xenxe are the only other bowlers with wickets on day one. They have taken a wicket each.

WARRIORS: Jordan Hermann (capt), Jiveshan Pillay, Andile Mogakane, Jean du Plessis, Sinethemba Qeshile (wk), Matthew de Villiers, Patrick Kruger, Beyers Swanepoel, Duanne Olivier, Renaldo Meyer, Siya Simetu.

DRAGONS: Janneman Malan, Matthew Kleinveldt, Lesiba Ngoepe, Rubin Hermann, Wihan Lubbe (capt), Ruan de Swardt, Meeka-eel Prince (wk), Migael Pretorius, Bamanye Xenxe, Kerwin Mungroo, Achille Cloete.