Faf warms-up for Lankans

Johannesburg - Several of the South Africa squad to face visiting Sri Lanka in a five-ODI series this month sparkled with bat and ball Thursday on the first day of SuperSport Series matches.

Middle-order batsman Faf du Plessis struck 112 at Willowmoore Park in eastern Johannesburg suburb Benoni as Northern Titans won the toss and made 258-6 by the close against Eastern Cape Warriors.

Du Plessis hit 18 fours and one six off 155 balls before being bowled by Jon Jon Smuts as second-place Titans seek to close an 11-point gap behind Central Knights.

Henry Davids (55) and Albie Morkel (44 not out) did the best among the other batsmen while Protea Lonwabo Tsotsobe was the most successful Warriors bowler with 4-54 off nine overs.

Boeta Dippenaar (69) lifted Knights to 218 all out at De Beers Diamond Oval in Kimberley after another national squad bowler, Rory Kleinveldt (5-26), wreaked havoc for third-place Western Cape Cobras.

But the Cape Town franchise undid the good work by losing openers Yaseen Vallie and Andrew Puttick cheaply and were 23-2 at stumps in a game they need to win if dreams of a four-day, one-day and Twenty20 treble are to be realised.