The weather behaved across all three venues in the CSA 4-Day Series, allowing for another day of exciting action.
The first day of the season brought the first pre-lunch century in South Africa’s top-level domestic game in over 40 years, as well as a rather brave declaration on one of the two games played on the coast.
CSA 4-Day Series report
Here is a summary of what went down on the second day of the 4-Day Series.
Knights vs Warriors at Mangaung Oval
Knights: 430-6 declared and 26-0
Warriors: 158
The Knights followed up their impressive batting display with a dominant bowling performance, knocking the Warriors over for 158 on Day 2 of their opening clash in Bloemfontein.
The hosts added 25 runs to their overnight score before skipper Pite van Biljon declared.
Leg-spinner Shaun von Berg was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4-54, ably assisted by batting hero, Jacques Snyman, who showcased his all-round skills by picking up three wickets for 29.
For the Warriors, no batsman managed to reach 50, with Matthew Breetzke top-scoring with 43, while wicketkeeper-batsman Rudi Second finished unbeaten on 35.
At the close of play, the Knights had amassed a handy lead of 298 with two days left to play.
Cobras vs Titans at Newlands
Cobras: 264-9 and 121-5
Titans: 150
Another team that finished Day 2 of the 4-Day Series in a commanding position is the Cobras, who are in their second innings with a 235-run lead.
The men from the Cape declared their first innings on the first day, and that proved to be an inspired decision as they toppled a star-studded Titans side for just 150.
However, the star of the show was Proteas opener Dean Elgar who, despite the struggles at the other end, reached three figures before being dismissed 101 off just 143 balls.
The chief destroyer for the Cobras was left-arm spinner George Linde, who picked up the season’s first five-wicket haul, while Tshepo Moreki chipped in with three scalps.
In their second innings, the hosts stuttered to 121-5, and will want to extend their lead in the morning with wicketkeeper-batsman Kyle Verreyne still at the crease on 50.
Dolphins vs Lions at Kingsmead
Lions: 258
Dolphins: 189-1
In what has been so far a good round of fixtures for the home teams, the Dolphins also finished the second day the happier team in their clash against the Lions.
After bowling the 4-Day Series defending champions out for 258, with Reeza Hendricks and Ryan Rickelton the only batsmen to lift their bats, the men from the coast lost just one wicket in their response. The man to fall was Grant Roelofson, who lasted just two balls, while his opening partner Sarel Erwee brought up another aggressive century, which came off 136 deliveries.
Also reaching a milestone at the other end was the promising Keegan Petersen, who finished the day on 59 as the Dolphins crept 69 runs behind the Lions’ first-innings total with nine wickets in hand.
