Cobras on top in Bloem

The Cobras maintained their charge towards a Sunfoil Series title after dominating the Knights with the ball on day one of their four-day match in Bleomfontein.

At stumps, the Knights were struggling at 241/8 after Dane Paterson and Lizaad Williams each picked up three wickets after the hosts won the toss and elected to bat.

With just four rounds of the competition remaining, the visitors are way ahead of the pack, entering the seventh round with over 30 points ahead of the second-placed Highveld Lions.

However, Keegan Petersen showed fight with an unbeaten 126, while he was supported by a half century from Rudi Second.

Meanwhile, in Durban a 47th career century by Stephen Cook helped the Highveld Lions enjoy a solid opening day against the Dolphins. The veteran opener made 130 (257 balls, 17 fours) as the visitors manoeuvred their way to 295/4 by the time bad light forced play to close early after 86 overs.

Cook was not the only batsman to make merry with half-centuries also coming through Reeza Hendricks (86) and Kagiso Rapulana (54) after they won the toss and opted to bat first in the round seven encounter.

In East London, a career-best century by Eddie Moore led the way on a commanding opening day for the Warriors against the Titans. The hosts scored at a runrate of 4.3 to the over to reach stumps on a powerful 405/9.

Opener Moore top-scored with 151 (220 balls, 20 fours, one six) – his ninth career ton and one that surpassed his previous best score of 144 for Eastern Province against KwaZulu-Natal Inland last season.

There were also more than handy contributions from Yaseen Vallie (75 off 106 balls, 11 fours) and Lesiba Ngoepe (70 not out off 83 balls, 4 fours, 4 sixes) as the Eastern Cape franchise bossed the day against the reigning champions. – Own correspondent.