Warriors make solid start

Johannesburg - Thanks to two substantial partnerships up front, the Warriors took firm control of their four-day domestic cricket match against the Dolphins on the opening day in East London on Thursday.

Sent in to bat, the home side surged to 273 for three in 81.4 overs as opener Michael Price continued his good form, leading the way with 92.

Play was stopped due to bad light with 14 overs remaining.

The Dolphins were not helped by the fact that opening bowler Craig Alexander pulled up injured after bowling only eight deliveries and he took no further part in the day's play.

This placed more pressure on the rest of the attack and they could glean only three wickets during the day as the Warriors produced a solid batting display.

Price was the pivotal figure in the first half of the day, scoring almost half the 188 runs which were added for the first two wickets. He and David White (38) gave the Warriors a flying start with 74 in 19 overs for the first wicket and then Colin Ackermann (59) lent invaluable support in a second-wicket stand of 114.

Both Price and Ackermann fell in the space of 24 runs, but Jon-Jon Smuts (43) and skipper Colin Ingram (31) ensured the Warriors remained in control by adding 61 in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand.

The scoreboard on day one of the four-day match:

Toss: Dolphins

Warriors first innings

M Price c Chetty b Maharaj 92

D White lbw b Frylinck 38

C Ackermann lbw b Phehlukwayo 59

J Smuts not out 43

C Ingram not out 31

Extras: (lb5, w1, nb4) 10

Total: (3 wickets) 273 -- 81.4 overs

Fall of wickets: 1-74, 2-188, 3-212

Bowling: Alexander 1.2-0-19-0, Dupavillon 18-6-49-0 (2nb), Frylinck 20.2-3-59-1 (1nb), Phehlukwayo 10-1-38-1 (1nb, 1w), Maharaj 31-6-100-1, Khan 1-0-3-0.