Birch and Harmer give Warriors the edge
The Chevrolet Warriors, spearheaded by Andrew Birch and Simon Harmer, restricted the Sunfoil Dolphins to 296 in favourable batting conditions in their first innings on Thursday in the Sunfoil Series match at Buffalo Park in East London.
The visitors struck back in emphatic fashion when Kyle Abbott had Davy Jacobs, one of the Warriors’ centurions in their previous Sunfoil Series match, caught behind for a duck in the first over.
Michael Price and Basheer Walters will resume on 7 for one on Friday.
The Warriors' bowling attack was in control for most of the day after the Dolphins had won the toss and elected to bat.
Their destroyers-in-chief were Birch, who captured 3-67 in 19 overs, and Harmer, who finished with 3-76 in 25 overs.
An invaluable 94-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Cody Chetty and the captain, Daryn Smit, in 136 minutes and off 214 balls, helped to settle things down for the Dolphins after lunch.
In the morning session, Jonathan Vandiar and Vaughn van Jaarsveld threatened briefly with an aggressive partnership for the third wicket to guide the Dolphins to 70 for two.
The Warriors struck four hefty blows in the morning session.
Imraan Khan hit a delivery by Basheer Walters square of the wicket to point, where it was intercepted by Colin Ingram.
Divan van Wyk played down the wrong line and was bamboozled by Andrew Birch for 10, leaving the Dolphins in trouble on 28 for two.
Vandiar and Van Jaarsveld led a spirited fightback with a 42-run partnership off 36 balls. They targeted Gurshwin Rabie for some special boundary-treatment.
Vandiar went into self-destructive mode when he became just too ambitious against the part-time seam bowler Kelly Smuts, and was caught and bowled for 38. He faced 37 balls and slammed eight boundaries.
Harmer completed a very good morning session for the hosts by bowling Van Jaarsveld for 18 and reducing the visitors to 98 for four.
Chetty and David Miller moved the score to 139 for five before Harmer’s arm ball accounted for Miller. He contributed 41 off 65 balls, with six fours.
Smit and Chetty then resurrected the innings with sensible defending and added respectability to the score.
Rabie redeemed himself when he trapped Smit in front for 39, leaving the Dolphins on 233 for six.
Smit faced 103 balls and scored a four and a six.
As is often the case after a reasonably long partnership, the senior partner, Chetty, departed shortly afterwards when he lost concentration and attempted a heave off Harmer, only to be stumped by Athenkosi Dyili for 77.
He faced 166 balls and hit ten fours in his attractive knock.
Abbott did not last long, as he was caught at mid-on by Michael Price off Rabie for 4, leaving the Dolphins on 243 for eight.
Dane Paterson hit a few lusty blows and was instrumental in helping the Dolphins to add 53 runs for the final two wickets.
Rabie finished with 2-45 in nine overs.
TEAMS:
CHEVROLET WARRIORS: Davy Jacobs (capt), Michael Price, JJ Smuts, Ashwell Prince, Colin Ingram, Kelly Smuts, Athenkosi Dyili, Simon Harmer, Andrew Birch, Basheer Walters, Gurshwin Rabie.
SUNFOIL DOLPHINS: Daryn Smit (capt), Imraan Khan, Divan van Wyk, Jonathan Vandiar, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, David Miller, Cody Chetty, Prenelan Subrayen, Dane Paterson, Kyle Abbott, Craig Alexander.
