The Lions stamped their dominance over the Titans thanks to a record-breaking partnership in Benoni, while the Warriors edged closer to upsetting the table-topping Cobras on day three of the eighth round of CSA 4-Day Franchise Series matches.
Dolphins vs Knights
Following a delayed start to day three of the CSA 4-Day Franchise Series match between the Dolphins and the Knights at the Pietermaritzburg Oval, the hosts had the visitors 174-6 at the close of play.
Day two was completely washed out, so the Dolphins started day three on 330-6 with Senuran Muthusamy eyeing his first century of the season. However, he could only add eight runs to his overnight score before he was caught for 89.
Following Muthusamy’s dismissal, the Dolphins declared their innings with the total on 354-7. Eathan Bosch was the not out batsman on 22.
It was the ideal start with the ball from the hosts as Bosch picked up three quick wickets. A 23-run partnership between Grant Mokoena and Rudi Second was broken by Kerwin Mungroo – leaving the Knights languishing on 45-4.
An unbroken 72-run stand between Rudi Second and Shadley van Schalkwyk for the seventh wicket revived the Knights’ innings, and held up the Dolphins until bad light ended play on Wednesday.
Bosch ended the day with 4-62 to give the hosts a slim chance of victory in a clash that has been severely affected by the weather at the City Oval.
Stumps: @KnightsCricket 174-6, they still trail by 180 runs. @eathbosch the standout bowler on Day 3, picking up 4-62 ! A consistent performer for the @Hollywoodbets Dolphins. ?? #DOLvKNI #DolphinsCricket ? #4DaySeries pic.twitter.com/x6edxvPff1
— Dolphins Cricket (@DolphinsCricket) January 16, 2019
Dolphins 354-7 decl (MJ Ackerman 137, S Muthusamy 89, K Zondo 34, G Roelofsen 32, E Bosch 22 not out; T Mnyaka 3-71, ZC Qwabe 2-46, T Ntuli 2-111)
Knights 174-6 (RS Second 54 not out, SC van Schalkwyk 35 not out, TG Mokoena 27, AGS Gous 27; E Bosch 4-62)
Knights trail by 180 runs with 4 wickets remaining
Cape Cobras vs Warriors
A fine effort of 7-89 by Simon Harmer put the Warriors on course for a surprise victory over the log-leading Cobras in Cape Town on Wednesday.
The performance of the spinner was followed by the Warriors reaching 109-3 at stumps on day three as the visitors threatened to keep open the title race by hunting down the 206 required for victory at Newlands.
Ashwell Prince’s side entered the encounter this week knowing that victory, or even a draw to an extent, would be a big step towards securing the first-class crown, but their near 20-point lead now looks like it will be significantly eaten into by the result.
Although the Warriors have not yet completed the job, they took a big leap forward with their day three performance.
Cape Cobras 239 (JF Smith 74, RK Kleinveldt 42, DG Bedingham 43, K Verreynne 31, SM Khomari 20; BD Walters 3-51, GA Stuurman 3-88, L Sipamla 2-57, SR Harmer 2-32) & 309 (DG Bedingham 90, JF Smith 69, K Verreynne 56, PJ Malan 48; SR Harmer 7-89, L Sipamla 2-66)
Warriors 343 (CN Ackermann 78, S Qeshile 71 not out, JT Smuts 38, LC Ngoepe 33, SR Harmer 30, MY Vallie 20; JF Smith 4-62, M Nabe 3-63) & 109-3 (GL Cloete 36, EM Moore 35, JT Smuts 25 not out; DL Piedt 3-26)
Warriors need 97 runs to win with 7 wickets remaining
DAY 3 | STUMPS
Dane Piedt bagged 3 wickets in the final session of the day to see the @WarriorsCrickEC end the day on 109/3, still needing a further 97 for victory.#COBvWAR #StrengthInDiversity #4DaySeries pic.twitter.com/ymuke3R2W1
— COBRAS CRICKET (@CobrasCricket) January 16, 2019
Lions vs Titans
Nicky van den Bergh recorded the first double-century of the season as the Lions took complete command of the derby against the Titans in Benoni on Wednesday.
The right-hander crunched an unbeaten 217 (227 balls, 29×4, 2×6) – a fixture record individual score and career best – as the visitors reached 593-5 before declaring.
There was also a lifetime-best first-class score for Dominic Hendricks, who batted for a marathon 10-and-a-half hours to score a patient 197 (453 balls, 20 fours).
The pair put on a 390-run stand for the fifth wicket, another fixture record, but not a competition best, as they fell just three runs short of the unbroken 393 runs shared by JP Duminy and Dane Vilas for the Cape Cobras against the Lions in Potchefstroom back in 2014-15.
By the close, the reigning champions had already been reduced to 95-5, still needing an unlikely 269 to avoid an innings defeat at Willowmoore Park.
Titans 229 (CH Morris 97, F Behardien 28; PWA Mulder 4-55, N Burger 3-57; BC Fortuin 1-32, MP Siboto 1-33, BE Hendricks 1-50)
Lions 593-5 dec (NJ van den Bergh 217 not out, DA Hendricks 197, K Rapulana 75, PWA Mulder 40; H Davids 2-129, TL Moreki 2-168)
Titans trail by 269 runs with 5 wickets in hand
@Titans_Cricket 95/5 at the close of play. They are 273 runs behind and I don’t think they will avoid an innings defeat to the @LionsCricketSA
— Shawn Belluigi (@icarusjhb) January 16, 2019
Photo: Anesh Debiky/Gameplan Media
