Ton-up Reeza spearheads Lions fightback
REEZA Hendricks struck a wonderful hundred yesterday as the Highveld Lions fought back well on the third day of their Sunfoil Series match against the Dolphins at the Wanderers.
The home side will resume on 221-4 today with Rassi van der Dussen on 14 and nightwatchman Beuran Hendricks on 4, a lead of 88.
One of three Hendricks’ in the Lions starting side, none of whom are related, Reeza, perhaps inspired by fast bowler Beuran’s ‘five-for’ which saw the Dolphins bowled out for 379 in the morning, unfurled the full array of his shot-making talent to put the Lions in front.
Stephen Cook, who has struggled for form throughout the season, made 51, and was happy to just turn over the strike to Hendricks who was in full flow in an innings that while pleasing to watch, would also infuriate the many who would like to see him earn higher honours but realise he’s inhibited by inconsistency. Yesterday’s was just the 13th century of his first class career – in his 121st match – and he was eventually trapped lbw by Prenelan Subrayen for 112 off 182 balls, hitting 15 fours.
His wicket came late in the day, with the Dolphins deserving plenty of credit for how hard they pushed in the final hour, employing first a short ball strategy that accounted for Omphile Ramela (37) and then spin from Subrayen and Senuran Muthusamy which got the wickets of Reeza Hendricks and then Dominic Hendricks (1), which still gives them a good chance of pushing for victory today. Earlier Colin Savage made his maiden franchise hundred – off just 96 balls – to help the Dolphins secure an impressive haul of 5.58 bonus points for batting.
The Warriors and Knights are set for a dramatic final day in East London today, with the winner likely to top the Sunfoil Series points table.
When bad light brought a premature conclusion to play, the Knights were on 87-3 a lead of 94 after a sterling effort from their bowlers saw them take a seven-run lead on the first innings when they bowled the Warriors out for 181.
A draw, which will help neither team, seems the likeliest outcome in Paarl, where the Cape Cobras finished the third day of the match against the Titans on 393-3, thanks to an unbeaten 175 from Pieter Malan. The Cobras still trail by 42 runs, and will have to make some rapid progress this morning and hope for a collapse by the Titans batting order if they are to force a win on what has been a pitch where scoring quickly’s been hard, but picking up wickets even harder.