Van Zyl hits 228, Lions fight back
Acareer-best 228 by Stiaan van Zyl put the Cape Cobras in a strong position before the Highveld Lions fought back on day two of their Sunfoil Series encounter at Boland Park in Paarl yesterday.
The left-hander struck 27 fours in his innings of 287 balls as the hosts amassed 574/8. However, the visitors fought 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 third-wicket stand with the former going to stumps on 81 and the latter ending on 89.
The first two sessions mainly belonged to the Cobras, who were led impressively by Van Zyl’s first-ever double century.
Most of his support came through Lizaad Williams highest score of his own after he hit an unbeaten 53, allowing the home side to declare after 143.1 overs.
Omphile Ramela was the pick of the bowlers with two for 50.
However, he was then one of two wickets to fall as the Lions slipped to 39/2, before the CookVan der Dussen revival.
Meanwhile, Kerwin Mungroo returned his best Sunfoil Series figures as the Dolphins fought back to reach the halfway stage against the Warriors with a slight advantage at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth yesterday.
The fast bowler, playing in only his fourth match at this level, took five for 45 to restrict the home side to 204 all out – a lead of 59.
Sarel Erwee, Morne van Wyk and Vaughn van Jaarsveld then all hit half-centuries as the visitors turned that deficit into a 149-run lead at 208/3.
Andrea Agathangelou recorded his highest series score to keep the Titans in their contest against the Knights after two days at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein.
The 28-year-old hit 80 to help the visitors reach the close on 210/5 after earlier bowling out the hosts for 363. That score was built around Grant Mokoena carrying his bat for his best score of 153.
The right-hander was on 143 when the day started with his side on 304/7, but the last three wickets fell quickly thanks to Rowan Richards (4/64) and Alfred Mothoa (1/58).
Marchant de Lange struck a quick-fire 47 off 59 balls as the Knights were dismissed in 108 overs.
Agathangelou then hit his best score at franchise level in his fourth game, surpassing the 51 made against the Cobras last week, to keep his team in the game after wickets fell regularly. – Own correspondent