Jon Kent, drafted back into the KwaZulu-Natal Nashua Dolphins side in place of the injured Lance Klusener, made the most of his chances in the ”wooden-spoon” Supersport Series cricket match at the Oval in Pietermaritzburg on Friday with a solid 93 that helped the Dolphins, batting first after winning the toss, to a total of 392 off 131 overs.
In reply at close of play on day two, the Cobras had replied with 114 for five wickets. Kent took over the major batting responsibility for the Dolphins on the second day after century-maker Hashim Amla could only add nine to his overnight score and be dismissed for 117.
On another searing hot day in Pietermaritzburg, the Cobras bowlers were made to toil for their wickets, although they knocked over the last four for just eight runs. Monde Zondeki was the pick of their attack. He finished with four for 62 in 22,5 overs, while the ever-reliable Charl Willoughby notched three for 73 — including the prize scalp of Hashim Amla.
The Proteas batsman was caught behind by wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile — one of his three catches — after dogged resistance of 340 minutes at the crease. He faced 235 balls and hit 13 fours.
Kent, also a Willoughby victim, faced 195 balls and hit a six and 10 boundaries on the way to his 93. He was unlucky not to have attained a three-figure mark on his return to the Dolphins side.
Wicketkeeper Darren Smit (25) and all-rounder Johann Louw (28) kept the Cobras sweating it out in the field for longer than they would have hoped.
Kent was also in the action when the Dolphins were out in the afternoon sun. He took the catch that ended a promising innings of Henry Davids for 29, and in his five overs he only gave away six runs without taking a wicket.
The ever-dangerous JP Duminy was out for four to a Hashim Amla catch. At the end of the day, Swan was undefeated on 35 with the Cobras still well short of the follow-on mark of 243.
So far, the Dolphins have the better of the bonus points with 5,72 (3,72 batting and two bowling) against two for bowling by the Cobras, who have a lot of work to do on Saturday.
Even chances
The Supersport match between the Warriors and the Lions at Buffalo Park in East London was evenly poised at the end of the second day’s play on Friday. At stumps the Lions were 168 for four wickets in their first innings in reply to the home team’s 296.
Early on, overnight batsmen Arno Jacobs and Justin Kreusch kept the scoreboard moving nicely after a 9.30am start, with the Warriors on 194 for four wickets, and it came as a complete surprise when Jacobs was caught at mid-on, the only loose shot of his innings, for an enterprising 40.
Former Warriors all-rounder Tyron Henderson, who only bowled 13 overs on the first day, returned to the bowling crease about an hour and a quarter before lunch and proceeded to wrap up the tail.
He had Kreusch, 57, caught behind by wicketkeeper Thando Bula, and then dismissed Athi Dyili, who played an aggressive innings of 27. He bowled Brent Kops minutes before lunch and then, two balls after the interval, Mario Olivier became another Henderson-Bula victim, caught behind.
Kreusch stroked the ball well in his innings, which included only three fours, and made off 175 balls in exactly four hours.
Henderson finished with 4-46 and Gerhard de Bruin, who dismissed Jacobs, was equally impressive to finish with figures of 3-56 off 25 overs.
Werner Coetsee started like a house on fire for the Lions and he and Blake Snijman raced to 55 before Coetsee, facing Kreusch, punched him into the covers. Then came a colossal mix-up that cost Coetsee his wicket.
Snijman came through for a run and was sent back. As the throw from cover had missed the stumps, Coetsee scrambled through for the run, but was unable to beat a throw from Kops at mid-on that rattled the stumps.
The Lions had reached 90 for one at tea, after which Olivier grabbed two quick wickets, bowling Snijman for a neat 32 and had the dangerous Vaughn van Jaarsveld caught in the slips.
Paceman Olivier has been the pick of the bowlers and was rewarded with three wickets.
Neil McKenzie continued, taking the runs here and there and striking off-spinner Johan Botha for a six. At the close he was on 49 not out, accompanied by Bula (two not out), and the Lions will look to him for quick runs and more bonus points on Saturday.
High score
Goolam Bodi scored his highest first-class score to help the Titans declare with their score on 508/7 on the second day of their Supersport Series match against the Diamond Eagles at Goodyear Park in Bloemfontein. Dean Elgar and Boeta Dippenaar were to resume the home side’s first innings at 121/1 on Saturday morning.
Opener Jacques Rudolph was trapped leg before wicket by Pierre Joubert with his score on 24. It was Bodi’s fifth century in first-class cricket.
Alfonso Thomas shared a frustrating 46-run partnership with Bodi in the middle when captain Martin van Jaarsveld decided to declare just before tea. Bodi and Pierre de Bruyn scored a 238-run partnership over the fourth wicket before De Bruyn was caught by Elgar from spinner Thandi Tshabalala’s bowling.
Debutant Mario Saliwa was the pick of the Eagles bowlers, capturing three wickets for 85 runs. Saliwa added the wickets of Albie Morkel and Pierre Joubert after getting rid of Van Jaarsveld the previous day.
Tshabalala also captured the wicket of Farhaan Behardien when Victor Mpitsang held a catch at mid-off of his bowling.
The Eagles conceded a massive 66 extras, which helped the Titans gain momentum to post a very good score. — Sapa