Maritzburg - Already, there have been 23 and a half overs lost in Maritzburg. It is a terrific pity, given that the Dolphins and the Titans are both chasing a Sunfoil Series title that now seems to be inching its way towards Bloemfontein.
The Dolphins, who won the toss and opted to bat first on a surface even drier than the one that held the Proteas-Sri Lanka one-dayer, ended day one on 253 for 5, from 72.3 overs. For most of the morning, the Durbanites scored at around the four an over mark, well aware that you have to be ahead of the game to have a sniff in Maritzburg.
Opener Divan van Wyk (76) could so easily have had a different day, as he looked to have been struck right in front by the opening ball of the match. Rowan Richards, the Titans left-arm seamer, was staggered when Kiwi umpire Richard Hooper looked the other way, and his slips were just as aghast.
The Dolphins then settled in on a very sticky morning, with temperatures already breaching 30 degrees before 10am. It was hard work for the bowlers, especially, but Shaun von Berg settled into a long and probing spell of leg-spin once the ball had lost its hardness.
Van Wyk, who had looked in complete control, bizarrely contrived to give his wicket away on the stroke of lunch, slicing a wide and short delivery from part-time Aiden Markram into the gleeful hands of Dean Elgar at point.
The Dolphins lunched on 123 for one, and opener Senuran Muthusamy picked up his tempo, going to his half-century with some fine strokes. He pushed forward a little nervously, and Von Berg’s persistence paid off with a leg-before decision.
At the other end, the form player in South African cricket – and the birthday boy – Vaughn van Jaarsveld, again looked in terrific touch. Van Jaarsveld reached a fourth half-century of the campaign – to go with two big hundreds – and he remains undefeated on a promising 58.
Khaya Zondo (9), who saw Van Jaarsveld overtake him as the top-scoring player on the domestic scene, looked comfortable enough, but was out playing an ill-advised reverse-sweep. Elgar, who was at slip, was on the run when he caught the ball, suggesting the Titans had anticipated the shot.
Sibs Makhanya (16) left one that jagged back just after the tea break from David Wiese, and had his off-stump trimmed. There was still time for one more victim for the Titans, themselves still very much in the hunt for the four-day title, as Daryn Smit was adjudged leg-before to Wiese.
Smit looked filthy with the decision, but his departure meant that honours were just about even on a shortened, but fairly lively day in Maritzburg.
Both sides will hope for a full day’s play on Friday, because a draw doesn’t do anyone any favours.