Klaasen hits ton for Titans
Titans captain Heinrich Klaasen won an important toss on behalf of his team and then led them to a strong position with his brilliant century on the opening day of their Sunfoil Series match against the Warriors at Willowmoore Park in Benoni yesterday.
On a dry, dusty pitch that was already turning on the first morning, Klaasen compiled 133 in 280 minutes of quality batting, taking the Titans through to 310/7 at stumps.
Klaasen promoted himself up the order and came in after the early loss of opener Tony de Zorzi, caught close to the wicket for two off the bowling of Simon Harmer, and took control of the innings, especially with AB de Villiers failing in his comeback as he was caught in the slips off Tladi Bokako for just five.
Farhaan Behardien (41), Henry Davids (34) and Shaun von Berg (34) chipped in and the Titans will be content with their first day’s work on a tricky pitch.
Off-spinner Harmer was the star performer for the Warriors with four for 99 in 35 overs.
The powerful batting line-up of the Knights took advantage of the good batting conditions in Oudtshoorn as they piled up 376 for four on the first day of their match against the Cape Cobras.
Rudi Second was the obvious star of the day as he came in at 135 for three and powered the Knights to a commanding position with his aggressive 119 not out.
The contributions of Grant Mokoena (56), Pite van Biljon (56), David Miller (67) and Werner Coetsee (44 not out) were also important, while debutant paceman Michael Cohen was the most successful of the Cobras bowlers with two for 87 in 20 overs.
In Pietermaritzburg, the Highveld Lions’ new policy of batting Rassie van der Dussen in the middle-order paid off as he steered them through tricky times to 202 for five with an unbeaten half-century before bad light meant play could not continue past 78 overs.
What didn’t go to plan though was batsmen giving their wickets away when well set and, after winning the toss and putting on 55 for the first wicket, openers Stephen Cook (20) and Reeza Hendricks (41) both fell to catches off spinner Senuran Muthusamy.
Left-arm seamer Mthokozisi Shezi then made a double strike by having both Nicky van den Bergh (13) and Dwaine Pretorius (6) caught behind, but young Wiaan Mulder once again showed his potential with the bat as he reached the close on 31 not out, in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 62 with Van der Dussen.
AB de Villiers fails in his comeback game for Titans at Willowmoore Park.