Mungroo leads Dolphins fightback

A FIRST franchise five-for from Kerwin Mungroo helped the Dolphins bowl the Warriors out for 204, and claw their way back into their Sunfoil Series clash in Port Elizabeth yesterday.

The Warriors were on top of the Durban-based outfit at the start of day two when they needed 45 runs to erase the Dolphins first innings.

Starting day two on 100-4, the Warriors’ Yaseen Vallie (42) and Lesiba Ngoepe (45) put on 81 crucial runs for the fifth wicket before the latter fell to Senuran Muthusamy.

Vallie then followed a few balls later, trapped LBW off Muthusamy. This left the hosts 144-6, trailing the Dolphins by one run.

Ayabulela Gqamane’s 42 from 43 balls at the death helped propel the Warriors past 200 as they were bowled out for 204.

Mungroo’s 5-54 along with Muthusamy’s two wickets and one from Rob Frylinck, Mthokozisi Shezi and Keshav Maharaj helped keep the deficit at 59.

A circumspect start from the Dolphins saw their second innings move along to 90 before they lost their first wicket when Morné van Wyk was caught for 58.

His opening partner Sarel Erwee followed next, bowled by Tladi Bokako for 52 from 137 balls.

Senuran Muthusamy did not contribute much in the second innings after his 41 in the first innings, as he was lbw to Simon Harmer for one.

Sibz Makhanya joined Vanughn van Jaarsveld at the crease and the pair went about building a strong partnership towards the end of the second day’s play.

The two put on 84 unbeaten runs for the fourth wicket to take the Dolphins’ lead to 149 heading into the third day.

Van Jaarsveld will resume on 51 and Makhanya will return to the crease on 39.

A career-best 228 by Stiaan van Zyl put the Cobras in a strong position before the Lions fought back on day two of their encounter at in Paarl.

The elegant left-hander struck 27 fours in his innings of 287 balls as the hosts amassed 574-8, their best score in the fixture and second highest in their franchise history.

However, the visitors recovered from a poor start to fight back and reach the close on 191-2.

Captain Stephen Cook and Rassie van der Dussen were key to the fightback after sharing an unbroken 152-run thirdwicket stand with the former going to stumps on 81 (131 balls, 8 fours) and the latter ending on 89 (135 balls, 11 fours).

It was a solid end to the day for the bottom-of-the-table Lions and will give them some confidence going into day three. – African News Agency (ANA).