Cape Town - Quinton de Kock sent a reminder of his long-form credentials to the Proteas selectors as his 117 put the Titans in the ascendancy after the first day of their Sunfoil Series clash with the Cape Cobras at Sahara Willowmoore Park.
Batting at No. 6, De Kock rescued the Titans from 97 for four and then 171 for six with his 133-ball knock, adding 153 for the seventh wicket with Chris Morris at almost a run a ball to allow the hosts to close on 344 for seven.
That partnership changed the complexion of a day that had the potential to turn around the fortunes of an underperforming Cobras side, who brushed off the effects of losing the toss by striking three times early on.
First Rory Kleinveldt was rewarded for a long opening spell with the wicket of Heino Kuhn (30), before Lizaad Williams and Dane Paterson nabbed Grant Mokoena and Henry Davids cheaply.
Theunis de Bruyn and Farhaan Behardien dragged things back for the Titans with contrasting innings in a 54-run stand, with De Bruyn (32) providing the solidity and Behardien giving the forward impetus with a run-a-ball 35.
However, in the second over after lunch Williams had Behardien caught, and soon after Paterson trapped De Bruyn lbw.
De Kock and David Wiese added 45 for the sixth wicket in good time, but when Williams bowled Wiese for 21, the Cobras would have felt they were into the tail.
Morris proved that they weren’t, as he batted calmly through to tea and then took the attack to the visitors.
De Kock went to his hundred from 122 balls with a six off Siya Simetu, and although he fell to part-timer Simon Khomari shortly before the second new ball arrived, Morris reached stumps on 73 not out from just 96 deliveries when bad light stopped play after 83.1 overs.