Pressure on Markram
ROASTING: TITANS BUNDLED OUT FOR A PALTRY SCORE IN FIRST INNINGS
The pressure only mounted on Aiden Markram yesterday as the Proteas opener was bowled for just a single by Eldred Hawken, the Highveld Lions swing bowler who roasted the Titans batsmen on the second day of their four-day Domestic Series match at the Wanderers.
Markram, making his comeback after he fractured his wrist punching the wall in frustration following a pair in the second Test in India, has now made just six runs in his last four innings.
He was far from the only Titans batting failure yesterday though, as the visitors were bundled out for just 121, Hawken taking 5/39 in 11 overs in a tremendous riposte to the team that released him from contract at the end of last season.
Heinrich Klaasen fought back for the Titans with an innings of 40, but they still conceded a first-innings lead of 180.
Lions openers Josh Richards (46) and Dominic Hendricks (23) extended that lead with a first-wicket stand of 68, and despite Grant Thomson having both Wihan Lubbe and Kagiso Rapulana caught behind for ducks, Nicky van den Bergh piled on the pressure with his 52 not out.
The Lions closed on 168 for five, already leading by 360 runs.
The Cape Cobras attack held sway at Boland Park in Paarl as they reduced the Knights to 135 for six in their reply to the home side’s solid first innings of 442 for eight declared.
Fast bowler Lizaad Williams, captaining the Cobras for the first time, took 3/39 as wicketkeeper/ batsman Wandile Makwetu (27 not out) was left with the tail for company on the third day.
Andries Gous (43) and Patrick Kruger (34) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures.
Earlier, Jason Smith (85) and veteran Qaasim Adams (43) built on the first-day centuries of Janneman Malan and Davd Bedingham as they steered the Cobras to a fine total.
Corne Dry took 3/91 for the
Knights.
In Durban, Ed Moore’s career-best double-century penned an ideal day for the Warriors as they took firm control of their match against the Dolphins.
The stylish left-hander made 228 in nine hours of batting, facing 341 balls and hitting six sixes to go with his 15 fours.
There were also some mighty blows in the lower-order from Kelly Smuts (76) and Jade de Klerk (45) as the Warriors piled up 513 all out.
Spinners Prenalen Subrayen (4/110 in 29.5 overs) and Senuran Muthusamy (3/137 in 35.5 overs) were the only effective bowlers for the Dolphins.
Spin was also the chief instrument of destruction for the Warriors as Jon-Jon Smuts and De Klerk shared five wickets to reduce the Dolphins to 157/6 by stumps.
Dolphins captain Marques Ackerman was the only batsman to post a decent score, making 77, but coach Imraan Khan will not be impressed by him being caught on the boundary two balls after tea.