A day of blows at Kingsmead

THE Dolphins might have started the final session of their first day against the Lions feeling like Vaughn van Jaarsveld’s face felt after a frightful blow to the cheek, but they ended it by landing a few blows of their own at Kingsmead.

The visiting Lions ended the day on 295/4, after 86 overs on a placid pitch. The Lions, looking to avenge a defeat at The Wanderers from two weeks ago, won the toss and made the easy decision to take first strike.

Proteas ace Reeza Hendricks and former Test opener Stephen Cook added a serene 166 for the opening stand. Cook, typically composed at the crease, was largely untroubled as he compiled a 47th first-class century.

At the other end, Hendricks looked every inch the dominator he was during the Mzansi Super League, driving with authority and assurance.

The surprise was that he didn’t go on to three figures, too, as he tamely lobbed Eathan Bosch to mid-on, and trudged off for a fluent 86 off 128 balls. Rapulana came to the crease and it was his cut, when he was on 15, that caught Van Jaarsveld unawares. It flew straight at his face, and the batsman dropped like a boxer.

He walked off himself and was taken to hospital but early reports suggest he is alright.

Rapulana (54) and Cook (130) fell in quick succession as the Dolphins struck late in the day, reducing the Lions from from 278/2 to 295/4.