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DAY 4 WRAP: Dolphins slay Dragons, draws for Lions-Rocks and Tuskers-Titans

xtra17 February 2024 14:00| © MWP
By:CS Chiwanza
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Pieter Malan © Gallo Images

MALAN HELPS ROCKS SECURE A DRAW AGAINST LIONS

Pieter Malan was at his resilient best as he helped the Gbets Rocks mount a fightback and force a draw in their CSA 4-day Challenge match against the DP World Lions at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, on Saturday. 

Malan's knock buoyed the visitors' second-innings total to 475/9 and a 223-run lead with only a session to go in the match.

The teams found themselves in a situation where it was unlikely that the Lions could chase down the total or the Rocks bowl out the hosts in the available time.

The captains could do nothing but shake hands and agree to share the spoils.

The Rocks looked out of the contest after they had put up a first-innings total of 226 that was propped up by two half-centuries from Malan and Aviwe Mgijima.

Besides Janneman Malan, who got a start and failed to kick on, the rest of the Rocks' batting order just did not get going.

The Lions replied with the full might of their strong batting order. Their top-six, which features three Proteas players, is the who's who of red ball batting in the nation.

Four of those six batters did not disappoint. Dominic Hendricks led the way with a captain's innings that featured 17 fours for his 135 off 332 balls.

Ryan Rickelton, who scored five 50s in the just-ended SA20 tournament, added another with a score of 53 off 111.

Proteas test captain Temba Bavuma hasn't had much cricket in the past two months, but that didn't stop him from registering his 49th first-class half-century, a breezy 77 off 99 balls.

BLISTERING KNOCK FROM MULDER

But, the star of the innings was Wiaan Mulder. Like Rickelton, the Proteas allrounder seamlessly transferred his SA20 form to red-ball cricket with ease.

Mulder struck 16 fours and four sixes on his way to an 11th first-class ton of 141 off 128 balls.

Mulder's blistering knock helped the Lions reach a first-innings total of 478.

The Rocks needed an inspired innings from at least two of their top six batters. That call was answered by Pieter Malan and Jean du Plessis.

The visitors were floundering on 36 for three when Du Plessis joined Malan at the crease and they turned everything around with a 245-run fourth-wicket partnership.

Malan reached his 39th 4-day ton, 162 off 365 balls, while batting with Du Plessis. His younger partner, who was making his debut for the Boland-based outfit, showed them that they had made a good call in bringing in to the side.

Du Plessis scored an entertaining 120 off 194 deliveries in a knock that featured 11 fours and three sixes.

The Rocks were no longer chipping away at the deficit but building a lead by the time both batters were dismissed.

But, the visitors were not done yet. Another debutant, Nathan Engelbrecht, put his hand up and advanced the Rocks' cause with an unbeaten 84 off 167. It was his maiden first-class half-century.

Bjorn Fortuin was the standout bowler for the Lions. The 29-year-old spinner registered his ninth first-class four-wicket haul in the Rocks' first innings and bagged three wickets in the second for match figures of seven wickets for 196 runs in 64 overs.

Hardus Viljoen was Fortuin's opposite number. The 34-year-old pacer claimed his 27th first-class five-wicket haul in the Lions' batting innings.

He bagged five wickets for 63 runs in 29.5 overs. Viljoen also bowled the most maidens for the Rocks, 10, and had the best economy of 2.12 runs an over.

LIONS: Joshua Richards, Dominic Hendricks, Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma, Mitchell van Buuren, Wandile Makwetu, Delano Potgieter, Bjorn Fortuin, Malusi Siboto, Codi Yusuf.

ROCKS: Janneman Malan, Maphier Joseph, Pieter Malan (c), Nathan Engelbrecht, Aviwe Mgijima, Mickey Copeland, Hardus Viljoen, Jean du Plessis, Glenton Stuurman, Siyabonga Mahima, Achille Cloete

DOLPHINS DROWN DRAGONS AT POTCHEFSTROOM

Okuhle Cele and Bryce Parsons registered new career-best first-class figures as they helped the Hollywoodbets Dolphins claim a 10-wicket win over the North West Dragons in their CSA 4-day Challenge contest at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom.

The visitors stumbled out of the blocks, after winning the toss and choosing to bat first.

The Durban-based unit lost their first two wickets with less than 100 runs on the board.

The false start was rescued by an inspired blistering knock by Marques Ackerman.

The 27-year-old came out swinging and raced to a 69-ball 82 that shifted control into the Dolphins' favour. While Ackerman scythed bowlers, Bryce Parsons compiled a knock of a lifetime.

The 23-year-old creamed 25 fours and four sixes on his way to his highest first-class score of 191 from 179 balls.

He was on the cusp of a maiden double century when he fell to Bamanye Xenxe's bowling.

Parsons's century and his 293-run fifth-wicket partnership with Jon-Jon Smuts lifted the Dolphins to a first-innings total of 643/8d.

Smuts was happy to play second fiddle to Parsons's brilliance as he compiled his 10th first-class century at a more sedate pace, 88 per cent, compared to Parsons who was flying at a strike rate of 106.7.

The 35-year-old allrounder struck 25 fours to reach his milestone.

MOKOENA TON IN VAIN

With a solid platform in place, the onus was on the bowlers to do the job with the ball.

Their new ball pair of Okuhle Cele and Daryn Dupavillon did not disappoint. They took early wickets to put the hosts on the back foot and kept the pressure on throughout.

Lesiba Ngoepe put up a resistance with a well-paced 96, but his effort was in vain. He was the only Dragons batter to score more than 50 runs as they crumbled to 282.

Sensing an opportunity to seal a victory, Sarel Erwee asked the Dragons to follow-on.

Things did not kick off as the Dolphins captain had anticipated. The Dragons had decent opening and second-wicket partnerships, led by Grant Mokoena.

The experienced campaigner put up a fight as he registered 10th first-class ton.

Mokoena had little support throughout the innings, and when it came, it was too late.

That support was in the form of a spirited half-century from Duan Jansen. The 23-year-old left-hander scored 60 off 75 as he tried to help keep the hosts in the contest.

That fightback was thwarted by Okuhle Cele. The 24-year-old pacer ran through the Dragons' lower order to hasten the home side's defeat.

Cele came into the match with first-class best-bowling figures of 7-77, and by the time he was done destroying the Dragons, his new figures read, eight wickets for 130 runs in 37.5 overs. Cele also chalked his fifth and sixth fourth-wicket hauls in the match.

Duan Jansen was the best bowler for the Dragons in the match, with three wickets for 79 runs in 21.2 overs.

DRAGONS :Lesego Senokwane, Lesiba Ngoepe, Rubin Hermann, Wihan Lubbe (C), Migael Pretorius, Taheer Isaacs (wk), Duan Jansen, Bamanye Xenxe, Kerwin Mungroo, Gideon Peters.

DOLPHINS: Sarel Erwee (c), Tshepang Dithole, Marques Ackerman, Bryce Parsons, Jason Smith, Jon-Jon Smuts, Andile Phehlukwayo, Prenelan Subrayen, Andile Simelane, Daryn Dupavillon, Okuhle Cele.

TUSKERS AND TITANS SETTLE FOR A DRAW IN PIETERMARITZBURG

The AET Tuskers and the Multiply Titans settled for a draw in their CSA 4-day Challenge match at the Pietermaritzburg Oval in Pietermaritzburg after persistent rain prevented play on the final day.

The draw means that the Titans remain on top of the log.

The two teams provided entertaining cricket when conditions allowed for play. After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, the Tuskers scored an impressive 426 that was built on the foundation of a 58-run opening stand between Ben Compton and Yaseen Valli.

The 28-year-old made a triumphant return to red-ball cricket after not featuring in any 4-day match for the Tuskers before the break in December.

The opener showed patience and application as he batted his way to a seventh first-class century. He creamed 18 fours on his way to 124 off 316 balls.

Malcolm Nofal and Keith Dudgeon provided a crucial lower-order resistance with well-played half-centuries. Nofal chipped in with 90 off 178 and Dudgeon put up a decent 58 off 99.

Dewald Brevis was the Titans' star with the ball in the innings.

The 20-year-old came into the match with best-bowling figures of 3-84 and by the time he was done with the Tuskers, he had recorded his first four-wicket haul with four wickets for 65 runs.

Brevis's quick wickets were what the Titans needed as a pick-me-up as they went in to bat.

Their openers, Matthew Kleinveldt and Joshua van Heerden carried that momentum and kicked off the Titans' reply with a 252-run opening stand.

Kleinveldt smashed 21 fours on his way to a 35th first-class ton of 132 off 210 balls. Van Heerden, on the other hand, faced 209 balls for his unbeaten 109 runs that featured 13 fours.

This was van Heerden's second 4-day century. The duo batted from day two and late into day three when bad light stopped play.

Kleinveldt was dismissed shortly before the umpires called time on the game for the day.

Day four did not start any better. Rain prevented play for most of the day and the captains settled for shaking hands accepting a draw on Saturday afternoon.

By then it was obvious no other result was conceivable.

TUSKERS: Ben Compton, Yaseen Valli, Michael Erlank, Kagiso Rapulana, Malcolm Nofal, Alindile Mhletywa, Keith Dudgeon, Cameron Shekleton, Smangaliso Nhlebela, Ntando Zuma, Jared Meiring

TITANS: Joshua van Heerden, Matthew Kleinveldt, Musa Twala, Dewald Brevis, Sibonelo Makhanya (c), Donovan Ferreira, Rivaldo Moonsamy (wk), Corbin Bosch, Dayyaan Galiem, Aya Gqamane, Schalk Engelbrecht


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