Warriors-Knights encounter ends in draw
CENTURIONS Grant Mokoena and Keegan Petersen helped the Knights to 391 for five in 100 overs, but their Sunfoil Series match against the Warriors ended in a draw at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley yesterday.
The Knights, spearheaded by Ryan McLaren’s 5/60, limited the Warriors to 362.
The Eastern Cape franchise owed much of their early dominance to an elegant Colin Ackermann.
He compiled 187 off 303 deliveries, with 23 fours and three sixes.
The hosts finished the match with 15.82 bonus points. Overall, the Knights have assembled 68.90 points.
The second-placed central franchise are less than 11 points behind the log leaders, the Titans, who have 79.68.
Mokoena made 108 with 15 fours and featured in a rollicking 127-run partnership off 145 balls with Petersen, who scored his 10th first-class century off 213 balls.
Sisanda Magala captured 2/64 and was impressive with the second new ball.
Despite his dangerous presence, the Knights’ middle order chipped in with vital contributions.
Rudi Second struck 40, Werner Coetzee was undefeated with 23 and allrounder McLaren was unbeaten on 36.
Warriors offspinner Simon Harmer grafted valiantly on an unresponsive pitch, taking 2/118 in 32 overs.
The Eastern Cape franchise collected 12.82 bonus points from the match.
The rain and a wet outfield allowed only 40 overs of play on the first two days.
Meanwhile, the relentless Dane Vilas powered the Dolphins to 360 for four, an overall lead of 258, before their Sunfoil Series match against the Cape Cobras finished in a draw at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn yesterday.
Vilas and Cody Chetty resumed after lunch on 278 for four.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Vilas finished unbeaten on 64 off 110 balls with four fours, while Chetty contributed a more circumspect 46 off 79 deliveries.
The Cobras edged the Dolphins on bonus points, collecting 14.56, while the visitors earned 13.54.
The hosts are fourth on the log on 64.14, followed by the Dolphins on 61.96 points.
The clinical Vilas struck a masterly 161 in the first innings to guide the visitors to 327 despite a superb 4/25 by Vernon Philander.
Zubayr Hamza (88), Philander (80) and Pieter Malan (56) combined to fashion a 102-run lead as the WSB Cobras struck 429.
In the second innings of the Dolphins, the Cobras could not produce sufficient pressure to suffocate the visitors or find the edges on a flat deck.
Philander nipped out 1/19 in 10 overs, while offspinner Dane Piedt contributed 2/76 in 23 overs.
Morne van Wyk compiled his 21st first-class century in smashing 106 off 165 balls.
Vaughn van Jaarsveld was even more adventurous in his 100 off 123 deliveries.
The Cobras lost their grip on the match when the two centurions led the onslaught on Philander’s inexperienced support crew on Wednesday and yesterday. – SuperSport.com