Creative partnership saves day for Warriors
A PARTNERSHIP of 111 runs between David White and Ryan Bailey dominated day one of the Chevrolet Warriors' Sunfoil Series clash against the Chevrolet Knights at Chevrolet Park, but their dismissals late yesterday created an opening for the Knights to exploit.
White's second century of the tournament and Bailey's 60 carried the Warriors to 227 for four with stumps in sight, but both batsmen fell in the space of three overs. That left the visitors at 231 for six overnight, with two new batsmen yet to get off the mark.
The match was delayed by a wet outfield in the morning, after which the Warriors won the toss and elected to bat – a decision vindicated by an opening stand of 49 between White and Michael Price.
However, the Knights were able to chip away at the Warriors order and reduce them to 116 for four after 40 overs, before White and Bailey came together for a fifth-wicket partnership that took them However, the Warriors still have plenty to do if they are to record the solid first-innings score they desire.
At Boland Park yesterday, Justin Ontong converted his excellent form into his first century of this season's Sunfoil Series to single-handedly guide the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras out of a perilous position against the Sunfoil Dolphins.
Ontong came to the crease with the Cobras reeling on 24 for three after they had been inserted by the Dolphins, and was out for 150 in the last over of the day to leave the Cobras on 304 for nine at stumps.
It was a remarkable innings from the Cobras skipper, who had played a similarly crucial innings in the Cobras' first innings against the Bizhub Highveld Lions last week.
The Dolphins' efforts in the field were led by Kyle Abbott, who claimed the key wicket of Stiaan van Zyl and then dismissed Yaseen Vallie (44) and Dane Vilas in the middle order before finishing with figures of 4 for 60.
In an action-packed day at Bidvest Wanderers, Brett Pelser's four-wicket haul for the Bizhub Highveld Lions put their Sunfoil Series campaign back on track as they bowled out The Unlimited Titans for just 147 and then closed day one on 109 for four.
Pelser claimed figures of 4 for 28 to help the Lions recover from last week's defeat in Cape Town.
Titans openers Heino Kuhn and Francois le Clus fell in the space of three deliveries, and before long the Titans were 47 for four – and then 109 for eight. On top of Pelser's haul, Cliffe Deacon took 3 for 41 to leave the Titans on the ropes.
Only Qaasim Adams was up to the task among the visiting batsmen, hitting 59 before Imran Tahir cleaned up both Adams and Vincent Moore to finish off the innings and record figures of 2 for 9.
The Lions lost Stephen Cook early in their reply, and then saw Temba Bavuma, Dominic Hendricks and Devon Conway all throw away starts as Moore dismissed all three. However, Neil McKenzie's unbeaten 30 provided a sense of stability, and the hosts will begin day two with their eyes on a large first-innings lead.
