Pieter Malan, Aiden Markram, Lutho Sipamla and Keshav Maharaj star on Day 3 as we wrap up the final round of the 4-Day Series.
Lions vs Titans
Kagiso Rabada and Lutho Sipamla finished with five wickets apiece before half-centuries from Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks helped the Imperial Lions hit back strongly on day three of their 4-Day Domestic Series derby against the Momentum Multiply Titans in Johannesburg on Thursday.
The Proteas fast-bowling duo grabbed five for 51 and five for 37 respectively as the visitors were dismissed for just 202 – 100 of those runs coming from the bat of Aiden Markram, who notched up his fifth century in 11 innings this season.
Despite that effort from the in-form opener, the hosts still claimed a surprise four-run lead that looked far from probable at the halfway stage of the game.
Reeza Hendricks then hit 96 (162 balls, 11 fours) and Rickelton 58 (82 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) to propel the Lions to 247 for six at the close, a lead of 251.
A busy day at the Imperial Wanderers Stadium began with the Titans losing their last five wickets for 15 runs, including Sipamla claiming four wickets in an over right at the end.
They started out proceedings on 169 for five and initially went well thanks to Dayyaan Galiem (17) and Markram.
But once the stand was broken by Rabada for his fifth strike of the innings and 12th career five-for, Mandla Mashimbyi’s side slipped from 187 for six to 202 all out.
Sipamla, who secured his third career five-wicket haul, took out Thando Ntini (4), Markram, Tabraiz Shamsi (0) and Okuhle Cele (0) all in the 75th over – the South Africa opener out after bagging his 17th career ton.
The Lions lost Dominic Hendricks (1) early in the chase, but Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks added 81 for the second wicket, before the former fell to Lizaad Williams (2/42).
The latter continued to go strongly before he became the last wicket to fall later in the day, although Wiaan Mulder (35*) kept the Lions in a good position by the close.
Cobras vs Knights
Pieter Malan recorded the highest individual score in Six Gun Grill Cape Cobras history to help them seize firm control on the third day of their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter against the VKB Knights in Cape Town on Thursday.
The seasoned right-hander amassed 264 off 507 balls (26 fours, 4 sixes), batting for five minutes short of 11 hours to help the hosts pile on a huge first-innings score of 523 for eight declared.
Malan’s effort was the biggest-ever individual score posted at Six Gun Grill Newlands, beating the previous best of 261* set by Western Province’s Stephen Steyn more than 90 years ago in the 1929/30 season.
It also beat the previous highest individual score of 260* for the Cape franchise held by JP Duminy against the Lions at Paarl in 2015/16 and was the third highest of the franchise era behind Stephen Cook (390) and Rilee Rossouw (319).
Amongst the other Cobras batsmen, Kyle Verreynne completed his fifth career century on his way to 109 (217 balls, 15 fours) and shared in an excellent 217-run fourth wicket stand with Malan.
After the declaration, George Linde (4/25) claimed four wickets to put the Central Franchise in a dire 106 for seven at the close. It meant they were completely out of the running to reach next week’s final.
Allan Donald’s charges started day three poorly placed and they were made to struggle by Malan and Verreynne, before the declaration finally arrived just before tea.
But day three was all about Malan as he and Verreynne resumed on the overnight total of 382 for three and extended the score to 460, before the latter fell to Jacques Snyman (1/139).
The latter was finally dismissed by Alfred Mothoa (1/79) after a marathon innings in which he comfortably beat his previous highest first-class score of 211* for Western Province against Namibia at Walvis Bay in 2016/17.
Pick-of-the-bowlers Patrick Kruger (3/45) then claimed some late wickets, prompting the declaration.
The Knights put up little fight in their second innings as Tshepo Moreki (2/29) struck in the sixth over to leave them on 10 for one.
Jacques Snyman attacked as he usually does with 29 during a stand of 40 with Raynard van Tonder (18) for the second wicket, but that partnership was ended by Linde, who accounted for both men as well as captain Pite van Biljon for a duck.
The rest of the batsmen, barring Farhaan Behardien (36*), were out for single digits, to give the Cobras firm control and put them on the cusp of a first win of the 2020/21 campaign.
ALSO READ: Pieter Malan surpasses legends with highest ever score for the Cobras
Dolphins vs Warriors
Eddie Moore’s 14th career century was upstaged by a 31st career five-for from Keshav Maharaj as the Hollywoodbets Dolphins zoned in on victory on the third day of their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter against the Warriors at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Thursday.
The Proteas’ No. 1 spinner grabbed his fourth five-wicket haul in his fifth match and took his tally of wickets for the season to 34 with figures of six for 93 as the hosts were dismissed for 345.
This despite opener Moore striking an impressive 155 (298 balls, 21 fours) and putting on a 145-run first-wicket stand with Gihahn Cloete (65 off 128 balls, 12 fours).
The Warriors were eventually dismissed for 345, leaving the Dolphins a target of 112. The KwaZulu-Natal outfit closed the day on eight for none.
The Eastern Cape outfit will, however, feel they could have done better after the wonderful platform laid for them by the Moore-Cloete stand.
They started day three on 88 for none and progressed well, even after the first wicket stand was broken, thanks to captain Yaseen Vallie (45).
But from 245 for one, they began to lose their way thanks to Maharaj’s strikes and the support received from the other end, in particular via Ruan de Swardt (2/38).
The Warriors eventually lost their last nine wicket for 100 to be all out in 111.2 overs.
Sarel Erwee (0*) and Senuran Muthusamy (6*) then took the Dolphins to the close in a powerful position.
