DAY 1: Jones leads Lions bowling effort against Western Province

DP World Lions allrounder Evan Jones led an impressive team bowling performance that saw his side reach the close of play in a strong position, with them 92 for two at stumps, having bowled World Sports Betting Western Province out for 193 in their first innings at WSB Newlands on Thursday.

Jones finished with solid figures of 4-58 in 12.1 overs, and was ably assisted by Beyers Swanepoel, 2-52, and Kwena Maphaka, 2-32, while Lutho Sipamla, 1-37, and Bjorn Fortuin, 1-3, also picked up a scalp each.

It was a dismal batting scorecard for the hosts, with just three batters getting into double figures, and they will be especially grateful for the effort of Daniel Smith, who struck an impressive 102 off just 91 balls, hammering 18 boundaries along the way.

Opener Edward Moore hit 19 off 18 (3x4), but Jones, Swanepoel and Maphaka did the early damage, reducing Province to 80 for seven in the 18th over.

Smith then finally received some assistance from No 9 batter Tshepo Moreki, as he stuck in and scored an important 46 off 90 balls (5x4; 1x6), during an 88-run eighth-wicket partnership, to help them get close to 200.

The Lions' innings was then anchored by veteran opener Dominic Hendricks, 48no off 140 balls (7x4), as they slowly made their way to the close of play in a strong position.

Opener Joshua Richards (7) was pinned LBW early by Dane Paterson, with the score 14 for one, before Reeza Hendricks (22) joined his namesake, and they shared in a painfully slow 54-run partnership off 24.3 overs.

Reeza’s wicket, caught by George Linde off the bowling of Jody Lawrence, brought in nightwatchman Sipamla, and he did his job perfectly, scoring four off 39 balls, as they saw out the rest of the day.

DOLPHINS END DAY ONE ON TOP OF BOLAND AFTER ALL-ROUND SHOWING

An all-round showing from the Hollywoodbets Dolphins saw them end day one well on top of Goldrush Boland, reaching the close of play on 185 for four in their first innings, for a lead of 29 runs at Boland Park in Paarl on Thursday.

Batting first, the hosts were skittled all out for 156, thanks largely to the efforts of young Tristan Luus, 4-42, Ottniel Baartman, 3-19, and Okuhle Cele, 2-49.

Dolphins opener Tshepang Dithole led the batting effort, finishing the day unbeaten on 78no off 133 balls (6x4), and he will resume on day two with Khaya Zondo, who is yet to score.

In the Boland innings, several batsmen got starts, but couldn’t kick on, as middle order batter Lehan Botha top scored with an unbeaten 45 off 75 balls (9x4).

Luus and Baartman were the chief destroyers early in the innings, claiming three wickets apiece, while Luus also effected a run out, leaving the hosts in deep trouble on 66 for seven after 23 overs.

Botha then shared in important stands of 35 with Aya Gqamane (16) and 47 with Glenton Stuurman (27), which helped them get over the 150-run mark.

The Dolphins' innings got off to a poor start as Romashan Pillay edged Stuurman to keeper Clyde Reeves-Fortuin for a first-ball duck.

Dithole then shared in strong partnerships, of 53 with Marques Ackerman (35), and 124 with Bryce Parsons (45), as they steered the visitors past Boland’s score.

A couple of late wickets helped the hosts fight back a bit, as Botha continued his solid day by having Parsons caught by Reeves-Fortuin, and Shaun von Berg bowled Jason Smith (2), as the Dolphins slipped to 182 for four.

PRINCE CENTURY HELPS DRAGONS TAKE CHARGE OF TITANS ON DAY ONE

A century from the bat of Meeka-Eel Prince, and half centuries from Wihan Lubbe and Rubin Hermann, helped the Eastvaal Renault Dragons dominate the opening day against the Momentum Multiply Titans, reaching the close on 342 for five at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Thursday.

This was the only one of the four 4-Day Series matches around the country that was completely dominated by the batsmen, as the hosts took charge of the game.

It was a brilliant effort from opener Prince, who seemed to pull his hamstring in the fifth over, when taking a single, which saw him go off injured on zero, before he returned in the 29th over after the dismissal of Raynard van Tonder. Prince batted out the rest of the day.

He finished unbeaten on 104 off 196 balls (8x4; 3x6), and will resume a 54-run partnership on the morning of day two with Dian Forrester (25no), as they look to hammer home their advantage.

It was a difficult start to the match for the Dragons as soon after Prince went off, his fellow opener Lesiba Ngoepe (17) was first to fall, trapped LBW by Gerald Coetzee.

But Van Tonder (49) and Lubbe, 75 off 104 (11x4; 2x6), steadied the ship with a solid 99-run stand, before Prince and Lubbe added 42, when the captain was removed, caught off the bowling of Dayyaan Galiem with the score 158 for three.

Prince was then joined by Hermann, who struck 69 off 120 (8x4; 1x6) during a 129-run stand, before two quick wickets saw them slip to 288/5, as Schalk Engelbrecht got rid of Hermann, and Donovan Ferreira accounted for Ruan de Swardt for a third-ball duck.

That brought Forrester in, and along with Prince, they safely guided their side to the close, while the opener brought up a well-deserved hundred late in the day.

TUSKERS DOMINATE WARRIORS ON SHORTENED FIRST DAY

The Mootheeram Tuskers will be frustrated that poor weather slowed their roll, as they reduced the Dafabet Warriors to 90 for seven in their first innings in their match at the Pietermaitzburg Oval on Thursday.

Only 33 overs were possible in a superb morning session for the hosts, before bad light and rain took hold over the entire afternoon session, leading to play ending early.

It was a brilliant all-round bowling effort from the Tuskers, with all of their bowlers keeping things tight, while Darryn Dupavillion was the pick of the lot with top figures of 3-18 in nine overs, while Hardus Viljoen, 2-12, and Sean Gilson, 2-13, backed him up well.

Just three batsmen reached double figures for the Warriors, with Modiri Litheko top-scoring with 30 at the top of the order.

No 7 batter Thomas Kaber (27no) and No 9 batter Aphiwe Mnyanda (15no) are unbeaten at the crease, and will hope to build a strong late innings partnership on day two to try to help their team add as many runs as possible to their first-innings score.