Day 2: Most CSA 4-day series matches in the balance after strong fightbacks all round
Paarl: Half centuries from the bats of Pieter Malan and Grant Roelofsen sparked an impressive fightback from Goldrush Boland, as they ended day two of their CSA 4-day series match against the Hollywoodbets Dolphins on 199/1 in their second innings, a lead of just nine runs, at Boland Park on Friday.
Boland were skittled on day one for 156, with the Dolphins then taking a 29 run lead into the second day after reaching stumps on 185/4 in their first innings, which they converted to 346 all out on day two, largely thanks to an impressive century from Tshepang Dithole.
Dithole hit 116 off 172 balls (12x4), and he was assisted by Khaya Zondo, 61 off 123 (4x4; 1x6), as they started the day extending their fifth wicket partnership to 54 runs, before Akhona Mnyaka made the breakthrough, having Dithole caught by Roelofsen with the score 236/5.
Zondo shared in stands of 66 with Hanu Vijoen (17) and 24 with Eathan Bosch (21), but once he fell, caught by Lehan Botha off the bowling of Glenton Stuurman, their final four wickets tumbled for just 20 runs.
Stuurman was the pick of the Boland bowlers with figures of 4/46, and was backed up well by Botha, 2/42, and Shaun von Berg, 2/69.
With a big 190 run deficit to navigate, Boland were then grateful to the efforts of openers Malan, 95no off 156 balls (14x4), and Roelofsen, 67 off 103 (10x4; 1x6) as their 141 run first wicket stand dragged their side back into the contest.
Eathan Bosch made the big breakthrough during the days final session, bowling Roelofsen, but Gavin Kaplan (25no) and Malan safely saw their team to the close, with an unbeaten 55-run partnership, and they will hope to extend that on day three as they look to set the Dolphins a stiff target to chase.
Boland: 156 (Lehan Botha 45, Glenton Stuurman 27; Tristan Luus 4/42, Ottniel Baartman 3/19)
Dophins 346 (Tshepang Dithole 116, Khaya Zondo 61; Glenton Stuurman 4/46)
Boland 199/1 (Pieter Malan 95no, Grant Roelofsen 67; Ethan Bosch 1/30)
Potchefstroom: Some late day hitting from Donovan Ferreira, 42no off 20 balls (4x4; 2x6), and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, 20no off 35 (4x4), helped the Momentum Multiply Titans stage a mini comeback against the Eastvaal Renault NW Dragons, reaching the close of play on day two on 153/4 in their first innings at the JB Marks Oval on Friday.
The hosts are however still in the driving seat, enjoying a big lead of 338 runs, after they declared their first innings on 491/8 earlier in the day.
Meeka-Eel Prince was the star of the Dragons batting effort, with him eventually out for a superb 142 off 258 balls (12x4; 4x6), while he was backed up well by Dian Forrester, 94 off 146 (11x4; 1x6), as they kicked on well from their overnight total of 342/5.
Prince and Forrester extended their sixth wicket partnership to 145 runs, taking their side past the 400-run mark, before Schalk Engelbrecht made the important breakthrough, bowling Prince with the score 433/6.
Forrester and Onke Nyaku (28) then combined for a 41-run stand, but once they both fell in quick succession, the Dragons declared soon after with a big first innings score.
The Titans innings saw all of their top order batsmen getting starts, but unable to kick on, with regular wickets making sure they were kept in check for most of the afternoon session.
Opener Jorich van Schalkwyk (41) and Keegan Petersen (22), combined for a 38-run second wicket stand, but they still found themselves in a spot of bother on 91/4 in the 35th over.
That saw Pretorius and Ferreira come together and they proceeded to counter attack with am unbeaten 62-run partnership, to give their side a boost and something to take into the third day of play on Saturday.
Dragons: 491/8 declared (Meeka-Eel Prince 142, Dian Forrester 94, Wihan Lubbe 75, Rubin Hermann 69; Schalk Engelbracht 4/179, Donovan Ferreira 2/101)
Titans: 153/4 (Donovan Ferreira 42no, Jorich van Schalkwyk 41; Alfred Mothoa 2/34)
Cape Town: The DP World Lions continued to make slow progress, but put themselves into a strong position, reaching stumps on day two on 393/6, a lead of 200 over World Sports Betting Western Province at WSB Newlands on Friday.
Centuries from Mitchell van Buuren, 126 off 253 balls (16x4; 1x6) and Connor Esterhuizen, 107no off 183 (14x4; 3x6) were the highlights for the visitors, as they only managed to score 201 runs on the day, after resuming in the morning session on 92/2.
The hosts were bowled all out for 193 on day one, and were unable to wrest back control of the match, as the Lions batted carefully throughout the second day of play.
Opener Dominic Hendricks (53) and nightwatchman Lutho Sipamla (12), began the day taking their side over 100, but both fell within five overs of each other as the Lions slipped to 110/4.
Van Buuren and Richard Seletswane (30) then fought back with a 68-run fifth wicket stand, before Seletswane was stumped off the bowling of George Linde, leaving them on 178/5.
That brought Esterhuizen in to join Van Buuren and they set about the innings defining partnership, of 175 runs, that put them well on top, when Van Buuren was finally dismissed in the days final session, caught by Kyle Simmonds off the bowling of Juan James.
Esterhuizen and Evan Jones (19no) saw out the rest of the day, and will resume on day three, probably looking to make some quick runs before putting Province back into bat.
Western Province: 193 (Daniel Smith 102, Tshepo Moreki 46; Evan Jones 4/58, Kwena Maphaka 2/32, Beyers Swanepoel, 2/52)
Lions: 393/6 (Mitchell van Buuren (126, Connor Esterhuizen 107, Dominic Hendricks 53; Dane Paterson 2/47, Jody Lawrence 2/69)
Pietermaritzburg: Another weather disrupted day saw honours even by the close of play on day two after the Mootheeram Tuskers reached stumps on 108/6 in their first innings, in response to the Dafabet Warriors 140 all out at the Pietermaritzburg Oval.
After just 33 overs were possible on day one, a slightly better 59 overs was played on day two, however rain and bad light continued to remain prevalent.
The bowlers continued to dominate in the match, with Daryn Dupavillion, 4/28, and Hardus Viljoen, 3/25, doing the damage for the hosts, while Matthew Boast, 3/36, shone for the visitors.
Warriors lower order batter Thomas Kaber, 50no off 122 balls (2x4), struck a composed half century, in a vitally important 66-run eighth wicket partnership with Aphiwe Mnyanda, 37 off 62 (4x4; 2x6), to make sure they got over the 100-run mark after being 69/7 on day one.
They resumed on 90/7 on day two and made steady progress in the morning, but once Dupavillion removed Mnyanda, they lost their last three wickets for just five runs.
The Tuskers innings saw regular wickets throughout, which didn’t allow them to take advantage of their solid bowling effort, as a number of their batsmen got starts, but couldn’t kick on.
Malcolm Nofal (19) and Sean Gilson (21) tried to revive things after their side slipped to 33/3 early on, but could only combine for a 25-run stand before both fell in quick succession leaving them in trouble on 59/5.
Cameron Shekleton (18no) and Andile Mogakane (19) combined for an important 35-run sixth wicket stand, but soon after Mogakane was stumped off the bowling of Kaber, the days play ended early, and Shekleton will have to resume on day three with Ntando Zuma (6no) as they try chase down the Warriors score.
Warriors: 140 (Thomas Kaber 50no, Aphiwe Mnyanda 37; Daryn Dupavillion 4/28, Hardus Viljoen 3/25)
Tuskers: 108/6 (Sean Gilson 21; Matthew Boast 3/36, Kerwin Mungroo 2/21)
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