Warriors take day one
by Jason Pearce 03 January 2013, 17:58
Michael Price and Arno Jacobs posted a fine unbeaten 86-run partnership to put the Chevrolet Warriors in a strong position at the close of play on day one of their Sunfoil Series match after earlier dismissing the Nashua Titans for 222 at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday.
After winning the toss and batting first, the Pretoria side were never allowed to gain any momentum as a disciplined Warriors attack kept taking wickets at vital intervals.
Seamer Gurshwin Rabie claimed figures of 4-30 off 18 overs as the coastal visitors made the most of the overcast and steamy conditions to snuff out three promising 50-run Titan partnerships, wrapping up the innings in 71.3 overs.
The Titans were in trouble early at 13 for two after Rabie picked up the first two wickets of the morning session. Mangaliso Mosehle was bowled for a duck after facing just three balls, and Rabie followed that up by picking up fellow Titans opener Pieter Malan for eight shortly after, caught by Simon Harmer at fourth slip while looking to drive through the covers.
Rising Protea stars Henry Davids and Farhaan Behardien then steadied the ship for the home side, putting together a 63-run partnership off 19.5 overs for the third wicket at a steady three runs per over, before the off-break of Harmer beat Davids and he was stumped for 27 off 73 balls, including four boundaries.
Behardien followed four balls later, caught by Warriors skipper Davy Jacobs off the bowling of Chris Jonker for 39 off 57 balls which included eight boundaries.
The Titans went to lunch in trouble at 79 for four, but a 58-run partnership off 19 overs between David Wiese and Heino Kuhn after lunch provided the second Titan rescue act of the day. Harmer intervened once more however, picking up his second wicket of the day when he had Kuhn caught by Adrian McLaren in the 46th over for 25 (61 balls, three fours).
Rabie then claimed his third wicket when he bowled Wiese for 35, the Titans allrounder picking up three fours and a six in his 64-ball stay at the crease. Rabie was not done yet however, as he then trapped Shaun Liebisch LBW for just two to have the Titans in trouble yet again on 148 for seven.
Some lusty hitting from Roelof Van der Merwe restored respectability as, together with CJ de Villiers, the pair put on a 52-run partnership for the eighth wicket off 14 overs to take the home side to tea at 198 for 7 off 65 overs.
The fun was over shortly after tea however, as two wickets fell with the score on 200. First De Villiers was run out for nine, then Van der Merwe was caught behind for 51 valuable runs (69 balls, five fours and a six) to give Jonker his second wicket of the day.
With the writing on the wall, Paul Harris and Ethy Mbhalati cobbled together a quick-fire 22 off three overs before Harmer picked up his third wicket, that of Mbhalati to bring the innings to an end.
Harmer finished with 3-66 off 22 overs while Jonker provided excellent support in returning figures of 2-14 off six overs.
Skipper Davy Jacobs was the only Warriors wicket to fall, bowled by Mbhalati for a duck with the score on one. However that was to be the only success for the home side as Price and Jacobs batted with increasing confidence, leaving the field unbeaten and trailing the Titans by 135 runs with nine first-innings wickets in hand.
Price finished on 50 not out off 72 balls with eight boundaries, while Jacobs will resume on 29.
NASHUA TITANS: Pieter Malan, Mangaliso Mosehle, Henry Davids (capt), Farhaan Berhardien, Heino Kuhn (w/k), David Wiese, Roelof van der Merwe, Shaun Liebisch, CJ de Villiers, Paul Harris, Ethy Mbhalati.
CHEVROLET WARRIORS: Michael Price, Davy Jacobs (capt), Arno Jacobs, Ashwell Prince, Colin Ingram, Christiaan Jonker, Adrian McLaren (w/k), Simon Harmer, Basheer Walters, Ayabulela Gqamane, Gurshwin Rabie.
