Cobras on top; Warriors hold slight edge, Dolphins in charge

Centuries from Kyle Verreynne and Pieter Malan during a superb 268-run partnership put the WBS Cobras on top against the Multiply Titans in their 4-Day Franchise Series clash at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Monday.

Verreynne plundered a career-best 155, his second first-class century, while Malan edged ever closer to the magical 10 000 first-class run mark, with his 120 taking him within just 48 runs of the landmark.

The two batsmen were brought together with their side in a perilous position on 34 for three in the morning session and then powered their way to 302 for three after tea when their stand was finally broken, and sparked a mini-collapse that saw them lose four wickets for 15 runs, before the Cobras closed out the days play on 322 for seven.

Corbin Bosch was the star bowler for the home side, with his two early wickets having the Cobras in all sorts of trouble at 4 for two in just the third over, before he ended the day with 4-62 from his 18 overs.

Junior Dala, 2-49, and Tshepo Moreki, 1-68, were the only other bowlers to pick up wickets on the first day.

The Cobras will now resume their innings on Tuesday's second day with Matthew Kleinveldt unbeaten on 16 and Dane Paterson on three and they will hope to add quite a few more runs to the total.

MULTIPLY TITANS: Wesley Marshall, Andrea Agathangelou, Jonathan Vandiar, Sizwe Masondo, Farhaan Berhadien, Corbin Bosch, Grant Thomson (capt & wk), Neil Brand, Junior Dala, Dayyan Galiem, Tshepo Moreki

VSB CAPE COBRAS: Janneman Malan, Pieter Malan (capt), David Bedingham, Jason Smith, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Metthew Kleinveldt, Aviwe Mgijima, George Linde, Dane Paterson, Tladi Bokako, Nandre Burger

WARRIORS HOLD SLIGHT EDGE ON LIONS

The Warriors held a slight advantage over the Imperial Lions in their 4-Day Franchise Series match at Buffalo Park in East London after windy conditions led to 15 wickets tumbling on an opening day that belonged to the bowlers.

The Lions, who won the toss and elected to bat first, will have kicked themselves after crashing to 152 all out at tea, with the Warriors then reaching 113 for five by the close of play to trail by just 39 runs.

The Lions will be grateful to the efforts of Protea stars Rassie van der Dussen and Wiaan Mulder who contributed 114 of their teams runs with van der Dussen top-scoring with 68 and Mulder scoring 46, while they shared an 89-run fourth-wicket stand after the Lions were reduced to 35 for three in the morning session.

However, once their partnership came to an end with the score on 124, the final seven Lions wickets tumbled for just 28 runs.

Andrew Birch, 2-26, started the collapse when he bowled Mulder and then had new man Nicky van den Bergh caught behind a few overs later, while Lutho Sipamla picked up the prized wicket of van der Dussen, who had taken a liking to his bowling in the morning, caught by Breetzke.

Sipamla cashed in with a couple of lower-order wickets to finish as the most successful Warriors bowler with 4-57, while it was Glenton Stuurman who did the early damage for the home side, claiming 2-32.

The Warriors chase was then in a decent position on 57 for one with just over an hour left in the day, but the wicket of Yaseen Vallie, bowled by Beuran Hendricks for 29, sparked a mini-collapse that saw the Warriors slip to 61 for four.

Eddie Moore and Jon Jon Smuts then looked to take their team to the close, but Moore fell for 38, leaving Smuts to close out the day unbeaten on 30, with Onke Nyaku with him on six.

The Warriors will now hope to pass the Lions total during the morning session on day two and see what type of lead they can establish.

WARRIORS: Eddie Moore, Matthew Breetzke, Rudi Second (wk), Sinethemba Qeshile, Jon-Jon Smuts (capt), Yaseen Vallie, Onke Nyaku, Andrew Birch, Jade de Klerk, Lutho Sipamla, Glenton Stuurman

IMPERIAL LIONS: Reeza Hendricks, Dominic Hendricks, Kagiso Rapulana, Rassie van der Dussen, Wiaan Mulder, Nicky van der Bergh (capt & wk), Dwaine Pretorius, Bjorn Fortuin, Malusi Siboto, Aaron Phangiso, Beuran Hendricks

SOLID BATTING LEAVES DOLPHINS IN CHARGE

A solid all-round batting effort from the Hollywoodbets Dolphins saw them end the opening day of their 4-Day Franchise Series clash against the VKB Knights at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein in a strong position on 333 for seven.

The Dolphins innings was littered with good partnerships as none of their batsmen managed to score a century, but two reached their half-centuries while others got good starts.

Marques Ackerman top-scored for the Dolphins with 88 and shared in two important stands of 87 for the second wicket with Jason Oates and 73 for the third wicket with Cody Chetty, who himself went on to score 48.

The visitors did have a slight wobble when they slipped to 194 for five after a double strike from Gerald Coetzee saw the Knights threaten to fight back, but Khaya Zondo and Robbie Frylinck then shared in the innings highest partnership of 127 for the sixth wicket to get them back on track.

Just a few overs before the close of play, Frylinck fell for a well-played 78, followed in the next over for a first-ball duck by Prenelan Subrayen, leaving Zondo unbeaten on 63 with Smangaliso Nhlebela on two for company at the end of play.

Coetzee was the home teams best bowler with figures of 4-60, while Corne Dry chipped in with 2-66.

The Dolphins will be eager to add a few more quick runs on day two before the Knights begin their response.

HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Jason Oakes (wk), Marques Ackermann, Cody Chetty, Khaya Zondo (capt), Sibonelo Makhanya, Robbie Frylinck, Prenelan Subrayen, Smangaliso Nhlebela, Daryn Dupavillon, Okuhle Cele

VKB KNIGHTS: Raynard van Tonder, Grant Mokoena, Keegan Petersen, Pite van Biljon (capt), Patrick Kruger, Shaun von Berg, Gerald Coetzee, Mbulelo Budaza, Tshepo Ntuli, Corne Dry, Clyde Fortuin (wk)