Kuhn, Du Plessis savage Dolphins
Heino Kuhn and Faf du Plessis both plundered centuries as the Nashua Titans romped to a staggering 473 for nine declared shortly before stumps on the first day of their SuperSport Series match against the Sunfoil Dolphins in Centurion on Thursday.
The Dolphins, in reply, faced just 1.4 overs before the close but they sank to five for two with opening batsmen Imraan Khan and Divan van Wyk both failing to score before being dismissed by pacemen Rowan Richards and Ethy Mbhalati respectively.
Despite the late strikes from the bowlers the day belonged to the Titans’ batsmen who accrued their runs off just 87.1 overs.
Opening bat Kuhn raced to his first ton of the season off just 116 balls before being dismissed by paceman Dane Paterson for 128 off 143 deliveries with his sparkling knock including 17 fours and a six.
Du Plessis was even more destructive than Kuhn as he raised three figures for the third time this season off 111 balls before reaching 157 off a trifling 162 deliveries with 15 fours and four sixes.
Du Plessis was the last man out when he was dismissed by leg-spinner Imran Tahir.
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The Titans began the day less than one point behind the log-leading Cape Cobras heading into the final round of matches and the hosts, after being asked to bat, set off in a great hurry in search of batting bonus points.
The upshot of their aggressive approach is that they ended the day atop the standings thanks to the 7.46 batting points that they accrued while the Cobras picked up just one bowling point against the Highveld Lions.
The Dolphins, after winning the toss and electing to bat, tasted early success with the ball when left-arm seamer Mthokozisi Shezi removed the dangerous Jacques Rudolph (2) to leave the Titans on six for one.
But the Titans batsmen were soon in control as they home team conjured up three century partnerships with Martin van Jaarsveld, with 50, and Henry Davids, with 73 off 95 balls, proving to be perfect foils for Kuhn and Du Plessis.
Van Jaarsveld and Kuhn put on 102 runs for the second wicket off 21.3 overs before Van Jaarsveld was dismissed by Shezi shortly before the lunch break.
Kuhn and Du Plessis then combined for a 110-run fourth-wicket partnership off just 15.5 overs at almost seven runs to the over before Kuhn’s dismissal.
Du Plessis and Davids then added to the Dolphins woes with a mammoth 156-run fifth wicket partnership.
The Titans scored at more than five runs to the over for most of the day as all of the Dolphins’ bowlers toiled although Shezi was the pick of the attack as he claimed 3-56 off 13 overs while Tahir finished with 3-133 off 26.1 overs.
Brandon Scullard, the 20-year-old paceman playing in just his second SuperSport Series match, had a day to forget as he picked up 1-143 off 20 overs.
TEAMS
Nashua Titans - Heino Kuhn (wk), Jacques Rudolph, Henry Davids, Martin van Jaarsveld (capt) , Farhaan Behardien, Faf du Plessis, David Wiese, Paul Harris, CJ de Villiers, Rowan Richards, Ethy Mbhalati.
Sunfoil Dolphins - Imraan Khan (capt), Divan Van Wyk, Vaughn Van Jaarsveld, Ahmed Amla, David Miller, Daryn Smit (wk), Cody Chetty, Brandon Scullard, Imran Tahir, Dane Paterson, Mthokozisi Shezi.