SuperSport Series
Eagles declare late on day two
2009-11-20 19:28
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EAST LONDON Nov 20
The Warriors were 13 without loss when stumps were drawn on the second day of their SuperSport Series match against the Diamond Eagles in East London on Friday, 378 runs in arrears after a scintillating day of power batting by the visitors.
Eagles skipper Boeta Dippenaar, who compiled his 23rd first-class century, was unbeaten on 112 and his fifth wicket partner, Morne van Wyk, was on 86 not out when Dippenaar declared the innings closed after 98 overs in an attacking move with the intent on capturing a Warriors wicket or two before the close of play.
But Michael Smith, on eight not out, and Ashwell Prince, unbeaten on one, stood firm in three hostile overs from Johan van der Wath and CJ de Villiers.
Dippenaar was at his best, reaching his century off 172 balls with 13 fours and a six, while stroking the ball to all corners of the field in a chanceless innings.
Van Wyk scored at a run a ball throughout his entertaining knock, and his 86 came off only 84 deliveries. His innings was studded with 18 fours and two huge sixes off Arno Jacobs, with both sixes coming in the same over.
In fact his first two scoring strokes were the two sixes and he showed from the very first ball he faced his intent to garner as many batting bonus points as possible on a placid Buffalo Park pitch.
The Warriors bowlers toiled throughout a warm but windy day with little luck. Lyall Meyer captured two wickets and Makhaya Ntini one, while Jacobs effected an excellent run out when he swooped on the ball running from slip to short fine leg to have Ryan Bailey run out for a solid 34.
Dippenaar and Van Wyk added 134 runs in an unbroken stand for the fifth wicket.
