Harmer makes major inroads
Off-spinner Simon Harmer (above) has cut a swathe through opposition batsmen in both England and South Africa over the last year and he was at it again yesterday as his five-wicket haul put the Warriors in firm control of their Sunfoil Series match against the Knights in East London.
The Warriors won the toss and sent the Knights in to bat in this crunch fixture that pits the log-leaders against the defending champions in the penultimate round of games, and it was impressive pacemen Anrich Nortje and Tladi Bokako who made the initial inroads with a couple of wickets apiece before Harmer took over.
The Test cricketer took 5/36 in 19.4 overs as the Knights were bundled out for just 188, and Harmer has now taken 43 wickets in seven matches in this season’s Sunfoil Series, following his haul of 72 wickets at 19.19 as he helped bowl Essex, newly promoted, to the County Championship title.
The Warriors reached 77/2 at stumps; Ed Moore dismissed for 35, but Gihahn Cloete is 34 not out.
Bad light brought a premature end to the match between the Highveld Lions and the Dolphins at the Wanderers; with the visitors having already claimed seven of the home side’s wickets after the hosts had elected to bat first.
The Lions suffered another batting collapse, sinking to 82/5 before recovering to 207/7 at stumps.
The Dolphins fielded an attack featuring much of their reserve strength and they fared well, especially pacemen Eathan Bosch (13-6-32-2) and Okuhle Cele (11-619-2). Left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy was as dangerous as ever late in the day as he picked up two for 20 in 13 overs.
Second-placed Cape Cobras and the fourth-placed Titans met in Paarl and Andrea Agathagelou and Farhaan Behardien kept the Titans afloat as they steered the team to 280/6 at stumps.
Agathagelou showed his mettle scoring 105, his maiden Sunfoil Series century, and gave the Titans a good foundation as he and Heinrich Klaasen (35) added 111 for the third wicket.
But off-spinner Dane Piedt had Klaasen caught down the leg-side and Tshepo Moreki then claimed two wickets and the Titans were faltering on 187/5. Fortunately Behardien marshalled the lower-order well, he and Shaun von Berg (42) adding 70 for the sixth wicket.