 |
|
|
Lions, Warriors on an even keel
The SuperSport Series match between the bizhub Highveld Lions and the Chevrolet Warriors was on an even keel as the Warriors closed the second day on 263 for eight in reply to the Lions' 255 at the Wanderers on Friday.
The Warriors began their first innings 40 minutes into the second day's play on another hazy day in Johannesburg, but the players were only able to stay on the field for an hour after tea before bad light stopped play for an hour. They came back on for four balls before going off again.
Justin Kreusch was trying hard to prevent the Warriors innings from dying, getting to stumps on 39 not out after 80 minutes and 80 balls at the crease.
The innings of Robin Peterson (1) and Wayne Parnell (6) were terminated soon after tea, Peterson playing back to spinner Werner Coetsee and being trapped dead in front and Parnell holing out to mid-on off Craig Alexander.
A century partnership between Arno and Davey Jacobs had taken the Chevrolet Warriors to 224 for six at tea.
Both batsmen, unrelated, scored half-centuries and, while they were together, the Warriors were really coining it as they reached 203 for four in reply to the Lions' first innings of 255.
Davey Jacobs was severe on anything short or full as he raced to his fifty off just 43 balls, with eight fours and a six on his card.
Perhaps he received a phone call from coach Russell Domingo shortly afterwards, because the new Warriors captain then went into his shell, scoring just nine runs off his next 28 deliveries.
It didn't seem the best idea, providing a struggling Lions attack with some much-needed respite and he then made it worse by gifting his wicket in the last over before tea as he went for an ambitious sweep off Coetsee and was bowled around his legs by a straight ball.
Arno Jacobs went for exactly 50 as Cliffie Deacon had him wondering whether to play or leave a delivery that just left him a bit, eventually delivering a catch to wicketkeeper Matthew Harris.
Ashwell Prince managed to add just 12 runs to the scorecard before he went toe-to-toe with Andre Nel and lost.
Nel taunted Prince and peppered him with short deliveries like some malicious gang leader before the national vice-captain unfurled an expansive drive which he edged into the hands of Vaughn van Jaarsveld at second slip.
Justin Kreusch was the batsman in at tea with nine not out.
The Highveld Lions fast bowlers had struck back in the morning session as the Warriors reached 90 for three at lunch.
The Warriors made a bright start to their first innings, replying to the Lions' 255 all out, as Michael Smith and Johan Botha put on 42 in 14 overs.
But left-armer Deacon then came on and produced a top-class, full, swinging delivery first up and won a leg-before decision against Botha (18).
Smith (28) would be the next to go, caught behind by Harris, who had to move smartly high to his right, off Alexander, the quickest of all the Lions bowlers. Smith would be ashamed, however, of the limp way in which he hung his bat outside off stump having got himself well set.
Nel had delivered a rather sick first spell but he came back firing just before lunch and produced the sort of sharp lifter that Zander de Bruyn hates, forcing the former international to glove a catch to short-leg for 24.
Arno Jacobs (6*) and Prince (4*) were the batsmen to resume for the Warriors after lunch.
Teams
bizhub Highveld Lions - Jean Symes, Alviro Petersen, Stephen Cook, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Werner Coetsee, Jonathan Vandiar, Matthew Harris, Cliffie Deacon, Andre Nel, Craig Alexander, Garnett Kruger.
Chevrolet Warriors - Michael Smith, Johan Botha, Zander de Bruyn, Arno Jacobs, Ashwell Prince, Davey Jacobs, Justin Kreusch, Robin Peterson, Wayne Parnell, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Sinethemba Mjekula.
