Petersen, Bodi put Lions on top

Alviro Petersen and Gulam Bodi both struck half-centuries to help the bizhub Highveld Lions to 228 for four at stumps on the first day of their SuperSport Series match against the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras at Bidvest Wanderers in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Opening batsman Petersen fell agonisingly short of a well-deserved century when he was dismissed for 93 while Bodi contributed a patient 73 off 167 balls with 10 fours and a six.

Petersen struck 11 fours and a six during his 155-ball innings and in the process he scored his 9 000th first-class run and took his tally for the season to 816 runs, the most by any batsmen in the SuperSport Series.

It turned out to be a miserable day for the Cobras who began the day holding a 0.68 point lead over the second-placed Titans on the log standings but they ended the day in second place after only managing to pick up one bowling bonus point.

The Titans managed to garner 7.46 batting bonus points in their match against the Dolphins and the Cobras will have just 27 overs on day two to try and pick up a few more bowling bonus points.

Rain had meant that play started two hours and 20 minutes late and the Lions lost an early wicket when Stephen Cook (4) was bowled by seamer Rory Kleinveldt with a delivery that clipped the top of the off stump.

But the home side then settled as Petersen and Bodi added 131 runs for the second-wicket off 42 overs to leave the Cobras rueing their decision to bowl first.

Petersen brought up his third fifty of the season off 90 deliveries although he did receive a let-off when off-spinner Dane Piedt failed to hang onto a very difficult caught and bowled chance when the batsman had scored 43.

The right-handed Petersen was eventually dismissed when he pulled a delivery from Piedt to midwicket but Neil McKenzie (25) and Bodi built on the good work started by the second-wicket stand by adding 64 runs for the third wicket.

The left-handed Bodi, who had played with admirable restraint, eventually fell in disappointing fashion when a very loose stroke to Piedt resulted in the batsman being caught at gully.

McKenzie followed soon after, caught at midwicket off a delivery from leg-spinner Alistair Gray, before Temba Bavuma (18 not out) and Thami Tsolekile steered their team to the close.

Piedt ended the day with figures of 2-109 off 20 overs.

TEAMS

bizhub Highveld Lions (possible) – Gulam Bodi, Stephen Cook, Jonathan Vandiar, Neil McKenzie (capt), Temba Bavuma, Zander de Bruyn, Thami Tsolekile (wk), Cliffe Deacon, Chris Morris, Richard das Neves, Eddie Leie.

Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras (possible) - Andrew Puttick, Yaseen Vallie, Alistair Gray, Stiaan van Zyl, Mark Boucher, Justin Kemp (capt), Dane Vilas (wk), Vernon Philander, Johann Louw, Rory Kleinveldt, Siya Simetu.

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