Vilas pulverises the hapless Lions
Dane Vilas deployed an aggressive approach and scored a scintillating century to put the Dolphins in charge of their Sunfoil Series match against the Highveld Lions at the Wanderers yesterday.
In the unfamiliar role of opening batsman, wicketkeeper Vilas shrugged off the loss of Sarel Erwee in the first over to blaze his way to 128 off just 152 balls, leading the Dolphins to 318/7 at stumps, a first-innings lead of 72.
Vaughn van Jaarsveld was similarly belligerent as he belted 42 off 31 balls, with the pair’s second-wicket stand of 89 being scored at more than seven runs per over.
Senuran Muthusamy then came in and scored a more sedate 69, but he and Vilas did the bulk of the damage to the Lions as they added 150 for the third wicket.
Calvin Savage then rammed home the advantage with 46 not out before stumps.
The Dolphins had earlier wrapped up the Lions’ first innings for 246, debutant pacemen Okuhle Cele and Eathan Bosch each finishing with three wickets.
In Paarl, Farhaan Behardien ensured the Titans recovered well from three middle-order wickets falling cheaply as his superb 129 lifted the visitors from 187/5 to 435/9 declared against the Cape Cobras.
The Titans began the second day on 280/6, but the Cobras’ hopes of getting rid of the tail quickly were dashed by Eldred Hawken, who scored a competition-best 52, and Malusi Siboto (27*) and Tabraiz Shamsi (11) also hung around.
The Titans were unable to get rid of either of the Cobras openers in the 52 overs they bowled before stumps as Andrew Puttick (71*) and Pieter Malan (49*) took the home side to 124/0.
No play was possible on day two of the game between leaders Warriors and champions Knights in East London due to rain.
The Warriors will resume on 77/2, just 111 runs behind the Knights’ first-innings score of 188 when play restarts, but the loss of a day’s play means the Dolphins will be able to heap pressure on them if they are able to force a win in Johannesburg.