DAY 1: Batters cash in on opening day of CSA 4-Day Series

Gavin Kaplan scored a masterful unbeaten 167 led the way for Goldrush Boland on their path to 367/2 at the close of the first day of their CSA 4-Day Series match against the Momentum Multiply Titans at Boland Park on Thursday.

The 27-year-old looked assured as he trampled the Titans’ relatively young bowling attack. This is Kaplan’s third 150-plus first-class for the Paarl side. He finished the day not out on 167 off 272 deliveries.

Kaplan marched in step with Grant Roelofsen for most of the day. The pair shared a stellar 280-run second-wicket partnership. Roelofsen struck 24 fours and a single six on his way to 150 from 230 balls.

The diminutive opener rode his luck when the visitors tried the short-ball tactic in an attempt to unsettle him. What eventually got him was an innocuous spin delivery that he missed while trying to sweep.

Dayyaan Galiem and Tshepo Ndwandwa were the only successful Titans bowlers. The duo also delivered the joint-most overs on day one. Galiem took a single wicket for 44 runs in 16 overs, while Ndwandwa finished the day with a single wicket for 54 runs in as many overs.

QESHILE ROARS TO 129 AS WARRIORS DEFY WP ONSLAUGHT AT ST GEORGE’S PARK

Sinethemba Qeshile (129) stared down the World Sports Betting Western Province bowling attack as he scored a brilliant century to steer the Dafabet Warriors to 281 at stumps at St George’s Park.

The wicketkeeper found himself in the middle in the eighth over, following Matthew Breetzke’s short stay at the crease. The Warriors had been reduced to 8/3 by the visitors. Qeshile mounted a 91-run fourth-wicket stand with Litheko Modiri (41) to keep the hosts in the contest.

Qeshile, who watched wickets tumble at the other end for most of the day, was dismissed by Tshepo Moreki in the last half hour of play for an outstanding 129 from 211 balls.

His dismissal brought Wesley Bedja to the middle. The former Western Province bowler threw his bat at everything as he raced to a 32-ball half-century. Bedja was dismissed for 50 from 33 balls.

Western Province’s pair of veteran seamers, Beuran Hendricks and Dane Piedt, returned matching figures. They each took three wickets for 42 runs in 16 overs. Moreki chipped in with a brace of wickets for 67 runs in 14 overs.

TUSKERS RECOVER FROM EARLY SETBACKS AS ERLANK ANCHORS INNINGS

Michael Erlank (95*) played a captain’s knock as he rescued the Moothee Ram Tuskers’ to shepherd them to 207/5 at stumps in their contest against the Eastvaal Renault Dragons at Pietermaritzburg Oval.

The Tuskers had an inopportune start, and were on 16/2 when Erlank arrived at the crease. The skipper knuckled down and accumulated 95 runs from 168 deliveries to lead the hosts out of trouble.

Erlank shared a 93-run fifth-wicket stand with Cameron Shekleton that hoisted the Tuskers from 57/4 to 150/5. Shekleton struck eight fours on his way to 54 off 74 deliveries. Erlank was in the company of Andile Mogakane (24*) at the close of play.

Five of the seven bowlers Wihan Lubbe, the Dragons’ captain employed finished the day with a wicket each. However, from that lot Alfred Mothoa and Dian Forrester had better numbers. Mothoa took 1/33 in 14 overs, while Forrester finished with 1/27 in 11 overs.