Zondo, Miller give Dolphins control

Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras celebrate the wicket of Divan van Wyk during day 2 of the Sunfoil Series match between Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras and Sunfoil Dolphins at Boland Park. Photo: Ziyaad Douglas

Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras celebrate the wicket of Divan van Wyk during day 2 of the Sunfoil Series match between Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras and Sunfoil Dolphins at Boland Park. Photo: Ziyaad Douglas

Published Feb 22, 2014

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Johannesburg - A fluent hundred from Khaya Zondo added to an unbeaten half-century by David Miller and put the Dolphins in complete control of their top-of-the-table domestic four-day encounter against the Cape Cobras in Paarl on Friday.

Right-hander Zondo made 127 from 181 balls, including two sixes and 19 fours, as the visitors reached stumps on 308 for five after they had earlier bowled out the home side for 304 - Kyle Abbott ending with five wickets.

Proteas limited-overs star Miller was on 72, taking the Dolphins, who recently beat the same opponents to the T20 Challenge crown, into a four run lead at the halfway stage.

The Durbanites needed just seven deliveries to claim the final Cobras wicket on the second morning with Abbott taking out Travis Muller (four) for figures of five for 60, his 10th career five-for.

Imraan Khan (eight) and Divan van Wyk (14) fell early in the reply, both to medium pace of Muller (2/60), but Zondo shared in stands of 102 with Cody Chetty (40) and 94 with Miller, setting a solid platform for the visitors.

Miller and Morne van Wyk (29) then put on 71 giving the Dolphins control by the close.

Johan van der Wath finished with six wickets to put the Knights on top of the Warriors after a rain-curtailed second day in Bloemfontein.

The veteran all-rounder had figures of six for 74 to shoot out the visitors for just 274.

Rilee Rossouw then struck 52 as the hosts reached 165 for three when the day was brought to a premature end shortly before tea due to afternoon thundershowers.

The men from the Eastern Cape had started out the day decently poised on 231 for six, but lost their remaining four wickets for only 43 with captain Van der Wath ripping through the tail to claim a 22nd career five-wicket haul.

Reeza Hendricks (26) and Gihahn Cloete (19) then put on 45 for the opening wicket, before a double strike by Basheer Walters (2/42) pegged the home side back.

But Rossouw then put on an 80-run third wicket stand with Rudi Second (39 not out), passing the 22nd half century of his career in the process, before falling to Simon Harmer, with Obus Pienaar (22) fighting on until the close - the Knights 109 behind at the end.

Another contemptible batting performance by the Titans left them heading for defeat at the end of the second day of their match against the Highveld Lions at the Wanderers Stadium.

The Titans were 62 for five in their second innings at stumps, still three runs behind.

Beginning with a 65-run deficit, the Titans second innings almost immediately went sour as Heino Kuhn was run out by Dominic Hendricks for a single.

Lonwabo Tsotsobe then trapped Cobus Pienaar leg-before for 11 and left-arm seamer Cliffe Deacon dished up two wickets in three balls, removing Francois le Clus (12) and Henry Davids (0) to have the Titans reeling on 35 for four.

Bad light then stopped play and even though the sun returned to make tanning possible for spectators, it took 50 minutes for the action to resume.

Medium-pacer Brett Pelser removed Qaasim Adams (5) with a fine return catch in the 12 overs then bowled before stumps.

The Lions earned their lead thanks to the batting of Neil McKenzie and Pelser in the morning session. Resuming on 109 for four, the pair added 57 before McKenzie was caught behind off David Wiese for 48 two balls after lunch.

Pelser was caught in the slips off CJ de Villiers for 35 in the next over, and the Lions subsided to 212 all out.

Wiese was the best of the Titans bowlers on Friday with three for 46 in 22 overs, while 19-year-old left-armer Vincent Moore finished with three for 41. - Sapa

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