DAY 2 WRAP: WP on top at Newlands, Lions face uphill battle

Cape Town: World Sports Betting Western Province are on top at Newlands after day two of their CSA 4-Day Series match, despite the bowling heroics of Okuhle Cele for the Hollywoodbets Dolphins on Wednesday.

Cele ripped through the final four wickets of the hosts’ first innings, as they wilted in the morning heat.

They added just 13 runs to their commanding overnight position of 324-6, fumbling to 337 thanks to the 28-year old’s third First Class five-for.

The Dolphins stumbled to 269-9 at stumps, still 70 runs adrift and a stern task ahead.

They’d started their response steadily, piecing together a half-century stand for the first wicket before Romashan Pillay (27) and Tshepang Ditole (32) were both prized out by Dane Paterson in the space of three balls in the 23rd over.

Marques Ackerman top-scored with a commanding 80 off 121 balls before he became the middle of three wickets to tumble with the score on 214, caught and bowled by Beuran Hendricks as the sixth man to fall, before Ethan Bosch was pinned LBW without scoring three balls later by the home captain.

A doughty, unbeaten 28 from Hanu Viljoen kept the Dolphins’ heads above water, as they head into day three with work to do.

Pietermaritzburg: Gavin Kaplan led the way as Goldrush Boland moved into a handy position in their CSA 4-Day Series clash with the ACDC Express Tuskers at the City Oval on Wednesday.

His composed 126 not out will see him walk back out on Thursday morning with his side 295-5, trailing their hosts by just three runs at the halfway mark.

Kaplan struck just six boundaries on a competitive second day, backing up his century against the Warriors in Gqeberha a week ago.

Pieter Malan fell early on to the bowling of Ziyaad Abrahams, before fellow opener Grant Roelofsen was caught and bowled by Tuskers captain Michael Erlank for 43 with the score on 109-2.

The home side were sensing blood when they removed Aviwe Mgijima (1) and Clyde Fortuin (17) cheaply, but Jhedli van Briesies settled the nerves with a knock of 82, putting on 151 with Kaplan for the fifth wicket.

Van Briesies became the second victim of veteran Erlank (2-57) late in the day, before Shaun von Berg blocked his way to stumps alongside Kaplan, leaving it all to play for on day three.

Johannesburg: The DP World Lions are facing an uphill task in their CSA 4-Day Series game with the North West Dragons, leading by an uncomfortable 22 runs with just six second innings wickets in hand at the end of day two at the Wanderers.

Ball had the better of bat for the second day running despite clear skies in Gauteng on Wednesday with the exception of Dian Forrester, whose 78 not out carried the visitors to a total of 256 and a first innings lead of 17.

The left-hander struck three sixes before carrying his bat, while all around him were dismantled by pace pair Beyers Swanepoel, who returned figures of 5-84, alongside Siya Plaatjie (4-54).

Resuming on 23-2, the Dragons were going well until Wihan Lubbe provided Plaatjie with his first wicket with the score on 80, with Meeka-Eel Prince following shortly afterwards to the same bowler, LBW two short of a half-century.

Falling to 171-9, the Lions were then frustrated by the efforts of Forrester and number 11 Shimane Mothoa (24), who between them put on a potentially game-changing 85 for the last wicket in 17 overs.

Onke Nyaku (2-28) then removed Dominic Hendricks without a run on the board of the Lions’ second dig, with Ruan de Swardt and Mothoa also striking late on to put the men from the north firmly on top.

Centurion: Duanne Olivier led the charge for the Dafabet Warriors in their CSA 4-Day Series contest with the Multiply Titans at SuperSport Park on Wednesday, only for the game to remain right in the balance at the halfway stage.

The 33-year-old quick claimed 4-39 as the home side were bowled out for 228 on day two, conceding a 16-run first innings deficit before reducing their visitors to 73-4 at Stumps.

Olivier struck first when he claimed the scalp of opener Lesego Senokwane for eight, before removing captain Keegan Petersen (28) after Jorich van Schalkwyk had been run out by rookie Aphiwe Mnyanda, who also went on to claim figures of 2-50 with his left-arm seam.

Rivaldo Moonsamy took the fight to the Warriors with an 86-run blast off just 102 deliveries, including 11 fours and a pair of sixes.

But his was a largely lone battle save for the efforts of Abdu Galiem, who finished 27 not out.

And the contest is very much alive after the Warriors’ top four were shot out before the close despite all reaching double figures.

Janco Smit was the pick of the Titans’ attack, taking 2-6 from his six-over new ball burst, with a wicket apiece for Bongumusa Makhanya and Lesego Kokohlabana.