Lions go into the hunt on first day

Warriors fail to get to grips with the visitors fiery attack

THE first day did not go to script for the Warriors before their home fans – and it was due to singular purpose by the visiting side who showed their early intent for this encounter.

The attacking bowling by the bizhub Highveld Lions, backed up by energetic fielding, led to a poor first innings total by Eastern Cape franchise, the Warrriors, on the opening day of their four-day Sunfoil Series match at Buffalo Park in East London yesterday.

The Warriors were dismissed for 193 in their first innings shortly after the tea interval, with two of the visitors’ bowlers, left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso, and medium-pacer Willem Mulder (3/42), sharing eight wickets between them.

Phangiso had an excellent spell, finishing with figures of 5/56 in 20.5 overs and he had the privilege of leading the Lions off the field at the end of the Warriors’ innings.

He thoroughly deserved his figures and no batsman faced him with any confidence.

Moreover, having dismissed Tladi Bokako and Anrich Nortje off successive balls to wrap up the innings, Phangiso will be on a hat-trick when he starts his bowling spell in the Warriors' second innings.

The home team got off to the worst start possible with Eddie Moore being clean-bowled by Beuren Hendricks for three with only four runs on the board, but then a neat 74-run partnership between the other opener, Gihan Cloete (26) and top-scorer Colin Ackermann (55) added some respectability to the score.

But after they were dismissed, there was virtually a procession to and from the pavilion as wickets fell at regular intervals.

Ackermann batted attractively, using his height to good advantage while piercing the field with wellplaced drives particularly straight down the ground.

He raced to his half-century off only 62 balls with 10 fours and stroked his way to 11 fours altogether, scoring his 55 off 68 balls and batting for only 87 minutes.

Yaseen Vallie, with 36 and Simon Harmer, 27 not out, contributed usefully, but a total of below 200 on the opening day of the game will surely not be enough.

The Warriors, did, however, strike back. With just a few overs remaining in the day’s play, the Lions were on 46 for two wickets after 22 overs.

Bokako and Nortje were the successful bowlers, seeing both experienced Lions openers, Stephen Cook (10) and Reeza Hendricks (5) back in the hut with only 15 on the board.