An unbeaten fourth-wicket century partnership by Justin Ontong and JP Duminy gave the Cobras the upper hand against the Dolphins on the second day of the four-day SuperSport Series match at Paarl, on Friday.
At the close, the Cobras' first innings stood at 316/3 (104
overs) with Ontong on 113 not out (13 fours) and Duminy on 71 not out (six fours and a six). The pair put on 157 runs in 38 overs for the unbeaten partnership and it is likely that the Cobras will continue batting on Saturday morning.
After being sent in to bat, the Cobras openers Andrew Puttick (45 off 82 balls) and Alistair Gray (57 off 199 balls) had to contend with a highly-disciplined Dolphins attack, spearheaded by Quinton Friend and Kyle Abbott, and they battled to keep the scoreboard ticking over. They did, however, produce a solid 67-run partnership during their 28-over stay at the crease.
The Dolphins pacemen managed to restrict the scoring but their left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj was the one to make the breakthrough with the only wicket to fall in the morning session. Puttick edged one to the slips off Maharaj's bowling with the total on 67.
In the post-lunch session Maharaj again struck twice when he claimed the scalps of Gray and Owais Shah (20 off 67 balls).
Maharaj ended the day with 3/118 for his 29 overs.
Shah's departure brought Justin Ontong to the wicket and after his indifferent form with the bat this season he needed a morale-booster. There was a doggedness about his approach and he was rewarded with a half-century early in the final session. His fifty came up off 94 balls and included five fours.
At the other end, JP Duminy was playing a superb supporting role and even though the new ball was taken in the 81st over the pair kept the Dolphins bowlers at bay. He raced to his fifty off just 73 balls and cracked five fours.
As play wound towards the close, the Ontong-Duminy partnership looked rock-solid and they steered the total past the 300-run mark in the third last over of the day.
An entire day's play was lost on Thursday as a result of inclement weather and a waterlogged outfield. – Sapa