The Tuskers batted first at the JB Marks Oval and resumed their first innings on 207/5 after bad light brought an early close to play on Thursday. They were eventually bowled out for a solid 399 on Friday. 

Captain and former Knights player Michael Erlank top-scored for the visitors from Pietermaritzburg with 200 not out off 301 balls, hitting 27 fours and one six. Andile Mokgakane chipped in with 67, while Cameron Shekleton scored a handy 54.

Two of the new faces, Jade de Klerk and Dian Forrester, were the pick of the bowlers for the Dragons. De Klerk took 3/58, while all-rounder Dian Forrester, also previously from the Knights, claimed 3/77.

In reply, the Dragons were 190/1 after 46 overs at stumps on day two. Lesiba Ngoepe, a former Dragons captain, was on 88 not out when play ended, while fellow ex-Knight Raynard van Tonder, celebrating his 27th birthday, was on 54*. 

Earlier in the innings, Meeka-eel Prince set the tone with 45 in an 85-run opening partnership with Ngoepe. Play at the JB Marks Oval is scheduled to start at 10:00, with the Dragons still 209 runs behind and nine wickets in hand.

Meanwhile, in Paarl, Boland got their season off to a magnificent start, declaring their first innings on 616/9 on day two against the Titans. Gavin Kaplan scored 238 before being trapped LBW by Tsepo Ndwandwa, while Grant Roelofson added a fine 150. Ndwandwa was the pick of the Titans’ bowlers with 6/178 in 43.2 overs.

In reply, the Titans were in trouble, losing debutant Lesego Senokwane for a duck and Neil Brand for 4. At stumps, the visitors from the capital were 80/3, with Lhuan-Dré Pretorius on 37* and Rivaldo Moonsamy on 14*, set to resume their first innings on Saturday.

At St George’s Park in Gqeberha, the Warriors hold a 213-run lead against Western Province. The Warriors were bowled out for 281 in their first innings, with Sinethemba Qeshile scoring 129. 

Province were then bowled out for 182, with Valentine Kitime making 54 and Kyle Simmonds chipping in with 40.

At stumps on day two, the Warriors were on 114/2, with Muhammad Munack unbeaten on 37 and captain Matthew Breetzke on 36*.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg