Dolphins poised for victory over Warriors, Lions in control against Titans
Dolphins poised for victory, Lions in control in JHB
JOHANNESBURG, March 19 (ANA) – Eddie Moore’s 14th career century was upstaged by a 31st career five-for from Keshav Maharaj as the Dolphins zoned in on victory on the third day of their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter against the Warriors at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Thursday.
The Proteas’ top spinner grabbed his fourth five-wicket haul in his fifth match and took his tally of wickets for the season to 34 with figures of 6/93 as the hosts were dismissed for 345.
This despite opener Moore striking an impressive 155 (298 balls, 21 fours) and putting on a 145-run first-wicket stand with Gihahn Cloete (65 off 128 balls, 12 fours).
The Warriors were eventually dismissed for 345, leaving the Dolphins a target of 112. The KwaZulu-Natal outfit closed the day on 8/0.
In Cape Town, Pieter Malan recorded the highest individual score inCape Cobras history to help them seize firm control on the third day of their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter against the Knights.
The seasoned right-hander amassed 264 off 507 balls (26 fours, four sixes), batting for five minutes short of 11 hours to help the hosts pile on a huge first-innings score of 523/8 declared.
Malan’s effort was the highest-ever individual score posted at Newlands, beating the previous best of 261* set by Western Province’s Stephen Steyn more than 90 years ago in the 1929/30 season.
Among the other Cobras batsmen, Kyle Verreynne completed his fifth career century on his way to 109 (217 balls, 15 fours) and shared in an excellent 217-run fourth wicket stand with Malan.
After the declaration, George Linde (4/25) claimed four wickets to put the central franchise in a dire 106/7 at the close. It meant they were completely out of the running to reach next week’s final.
Up in Johannesburg, Kagiso Rabada and Lutho Sipamla finished with five wickets apiece before half-centuries from Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks helped the Lions hit back strongly on day three of their 4-Day Domestic Series derby against the Titans.
The Proteas fast-bowling duo grabbed 5/51 and 5/37 respectively as the visitors were dismissed for just 202 – 100 of those runs coming from the bat of Aiden Markram, who notched up his fifth century in 11 innings this season.
Despite that effort from the in-form opener, the hosts still claimed a surprise four-run lead that looked far from probable at the halfway stage of the game.
Reeza Hendricks then struck 96 (162 balls, 11 fours) and Rickelton 58 (82 balls, eight fours, one six) to propel the Lions to 247/6 at the close, a lead of 251. – African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Michael Sherman
