New record for Cobras
The Titans reduced the Cape Cobras to 34 for three early on the opening day of their CSA 4-Day Franchise Series match at Willowmoore Park in Benoni yesterday, before Pieter Malan and Kyle Verreynne carried the visitors into a position of strength with a record-breaking partnership.
Having been sent in to bat on a pitch that promised to assist the new-ball bowlers, the Cobras closed on a very solid 322 for seven, after the Titans attack managed to fight back with the second new ball, taking four wickets for 15 runs.
Both Malan and Verreynne were dismissed, trapped lbw by Junior Dala and Corbin Bosch respectively, but not before they had added 268 for the fourth wicket, a new Cobras record, beating the 251 Hashim Amla and Justin Ontong put on against the Knights in Bloemfontein in 2017/18.
Opener Malan batted with tremendous skill, discipline and endurance to occupy the crease for 380 minutes and 272 balls, scoring 120, his third century in five matches against his former team.
Verreynne scored a typically feisty 155, slamming 21 fours and a six, not only completely changing the momentum of the game but further enhancing his claims for higher honours.
Bosch, bowling with pace and control, as well as getting some swing, was far and away the best of the Titans bowlers with career-best figures of four for 62 in 18 overs.
Rassie van der Dussen made an immediate impact on his return to the Highveld Lions team, top-scoring with 68 against the Warriors in East London.
He shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 89 with Wiaan Mulder, who chipped in with a valuable 46, but the rest of the Lions batting was poor as they could only muster 152 all out as Lutho Sipamla took four for 57 and fellow pacemen Glenton Stuurman and Andrew Birch shared four wickets.
But conditions were tricky for batting at Buffalo Park with the Warriors then struggling to 113 for five at stumps.
Opener Ed Moore scored a dogged 38 in two-and-a-half hours and captain Jon-Jon Smuts is 30 not out, with the responsibility of getting the hosts into the lead resting on his shoulders.
The Dolphins won the toss and batted first against the Knights in Bloemfontein and made themselves right at home as they amassed 333 for seven. Marques Ackerman (88 off 96 balls) and Robbie Frylinck (78 off 99 balls) were particularly dashing, with Cody Chetty adding a solid 48 and captain Khaya Zondo looking to complete a dominant first innings on a patient 63 not out.
Young fast bowler Gerald Coetzee continues to look at home at franchise level as he twice took two wickets with successive deliveries to end the day with four for 60 in 19 overs.