Highveld Lions left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso took four wickets to pull back a promising Warriors first innings effort on the opening day of their 4Day Franchise Series match at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth on Monday.
The Warriors still finished on a credible 306 for seven thanks to meaningful contributions from openers Gihahn Cloete (81) and Eddie Moore (41). Yaseen Vallie also looked good for his 44 as did skipper Jon-Jon Smuts, who fell for 31.
There was also a fine, unbeaten 48 from SA U19 righthander Sinethemba Qeshile, who looks to have all the makings of a quality batsman.
But it could have been much better for the home team had they converted good starts and not succumbed in part to the guile of Phangiso, who finished with four for 57.
Temba Bavuma’s decision to bowl on a traditionally bat-first pitch raised eyebrows but it was a choice that eventually paid dividends for the Lions in the middle of the innings.
There were some close calls for Cloete and Moore but once they settled down, runs – and boundaries – came regularly.
The pair played well in front of the wicket and were also not afraid to go over the top when the opportunity arose.
They posted a solid 81 for the first wicket, until Moore flirted with a back-of-a-length delivery from Beuran Hendricks that found an edge through to wicketkeeper Nicky van den Bergh.
Vallie joined Cloete as the Warriors looked to set themselves up for a sizeable total.
They took lunch at 106 for one and that progressed to 151 after the break before Cloete pushed forward to Phangiso, only to have the ball squeeze through his defence and onto the stumps.
The turner then switched sides to the Park Drive End and trapped Vallie leg before wicket. In the meantime, Smuts had progressed steadily but then holed out at long-off trying to hit Phangiso down the ground.
And when Phangiso bowled Lesiba Ngoepe (2) and Clyde Fortuin (0) chopped on off Hendricks, the Warriors were slipping at 210 for six having lost five wickets for 59 runs.
But a seventh-wicket stand between Qeshile and Sisanda Magala (27) steadied the ship towards the close. Qeshile will resume the cause with Andrew Birch (16) on Tuesday.