CJ de Villiers and Johan van der Wath shared six wickets at the Chevrolet Warriors struggled to 235 for seven at the close of play on day two of their SuperSport Series match against the Chevrolet Diamond Eagles at the OUTsurance Oval in Bloemfontein on Friday.

De Villiers picked up three for 57 while Van der Wath claimed three for 50 as the visitors ended the day trailing the Eagles by a mammoth 374 runs.

The Eagles declared their first innings closed on 609 for nine giving themselves 14 overs to bowl at their opponents before tea and they made full use of the new ball as the men from the Eastern Cape reached the break on a shaky 59 for three.

The visitors suffered a horror start when Michael Smith (nought) edged the second ball of the innings, bowled by seamer Van der Wath, through to keeper Morne van Wyk.

Worse was to follow for the Eastern Cape franchise when the in-form Colin Ingram (five) was trapped leg-before by speedster De Villiers.

The Warriors were limping on 14 for two before De Villiers intervened once again when he removed Jon-Jon Smuts (27) lbw.

Matters did not improve much for the visitors in the final session despite 63 off 98 balls from Arno Jacobs.

Craig Thyssen (34) was caught behind off a De Villiers delivery before Davy Jacobs (29) was bowled by Van der Wath to reduce the Warriors to 158 for five.

Van der Wath then removed Arno Jacobs before left-arm spinner Con de Lange accounted for Andrew Birch (13) courtesy of a caught and bowled effort.

Justin Kreusch (40 not out) and Corbyn Dolley (five not out) were the not out batsmen at the crease when stumps were called.

The Eagles’ innings was given a late boost from De Villiers who slammed his way to 50 not out off 52 balls while sharing in a 65-run ninth-wicket partnership with Gino Vries (20).

Fast bowler Garnett Kruger finished the Eagles’ innings with figures of three for 104 while left-arm spinner Smuts picked up three for 133.

Earlier, half-centuries from Van Wyk and De Lange propelled the Eagles to 548 for eight at lunch.

Van Wyk began the day on 46 and he needed 13 more deliveries to raise his third fifty of the season off 57 balls.

The right-handed Van Wyk eventually fell to Kruger for 56 off 68 balls with the Eagle on 449 for six.

De Lange picked up where Van Wyk left off as he helped himself to an even 50 off 71 deliveries.

Van der Wath and De Lange made good use a wicket that seemed to hold few fears for the Eagles’ batsmen as the duo plundered 81 runs for the seventh wicket at more than five runs to the over.

Van der Wath compiled a dashing knock of 39 which included four fours and a six before he was stumped by Davy Jacobs off a delivery from Smuts.

De Lange was on his way back to the pavilion two runs later when he was bowled by Kruger to leave the home side on 532 for eight.

Teams

Chevrolet Diamond Eagles - Dean Elgar, Reeza Hendricks, Rilee Rossouw, Boeta Dippenaar, Ryan Bailey, Morne van Wyk (capt, wk), Con de Lange, Johan van der Wath, CJ de Villiers, Gino Vries, Victor Mpitsang.

Chevrolet Warriors - Michael Smith, Jon-Jon Smuts, Colin Ingram, Arno Jacobs, Justin Kreusch, Davy Jacobs (capt, wk), Craig Thyssen, Garnett Kruger, Corbyn Dolley, Andrew Birch, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.