Cobras, Dolphins even after day two

Gallo Images

Neither side managed to take control midway through the Sunfoil Series match between the Cape Cobras and the Warriors on Friday after the second day's play.

Johannesburg – Neither side managed to take control midway through the Sunfoil Series match between the Cape Cobras and the Warriors on Friday after the second day's play in Paarl.

The Warriors were dismissed for 266 runs shortly before the close, taking a narrow four-run first-innings lead.

Cobras openers Alistair Gray, unbeaten on 14, and Andrew Puttick, on two not out, guided the hosts to 24/0, and a 20-run second-innings advantage, when stumps were drawn.

Ashwell Prince and Colin Ingram had anchored a recovery for the Warriors after they lost two early wickets in the morning session.

Captain Davy Jacobs and JJ Smuts resumed their first innings at 11/1 but both were removed within the first nine overs of the day's play.

Ingram, who made 80 runs, and Prince, who contributed 53, shared 121 runs for the third wicket to carry the top order.

Apart from Kelly Smuts, who made 32, none of the other Warriors batsmen managed to get going.

Tail-ender Simon Harmer contributed a valuable unbeaten 33 down the order, though he eventually ran out of partners with a handful of overs left in the final session.

Pacemen Rory Kleinveldt, called up to South Africa's Test squad this week, and Vernon Philander bagged three wickets each to frustrate the Warriors' batting line-up.

Earlier, the Dolphins and the Knights were again frustrated as play in Pietermaritzburg was called off without a ball bowled, due to a wet pitch and overcast skies, for the second day in succession. – Sapa