Lions bare their teeth

Midrand - A fourth-wicket partnership of 148 between middle-order batsmen Neil McKenzie and Vaughn van Jaarsveld ensured that the Highveld Lions reached 409 for eight at stumps on the second day of their SuperSport match against the Cape Cobras at Randjesfontein on Friday.

The light was fading fast when the umpires called time with three overs still to be completed, but the home side had built a significant lead of 212.

When play resumes, Robbie Frylinck on 31 and Paul Harris on seven will prevail to take the total beyond the visitors' reach.

The Lions had signalled their intent from the outset, with Alviro Petersen, 58 overnight, striking past deep square-leg for a boundary.

Just as the Lion's captain was looking to climb into the bowling, he pushed at Vernon Philander and edged low to Andrew Puttick at second-slip.

The recovery was instigated by McKenzie and Van Jaarsveld, with Van Jaarsveld taking on the role as aggressor, his half-century coming off 66 balls, including 10 fours.

McKenzie was slightly more circumspect, striking five boundaries in his 99-ball half-century, his 67th first-class 50.

Prior to the break, the pair was in no difficulty whatsoever and may have given the impression that batting had become easier on a glorious day.

However, in the seventh over after the luncheon interval, disaster struck with both batsmen back in the hut within two deliveries of each other.

In an effort to break what was becoming a troublesome partnership, the visitors' captain Graeme Smith introduced Stiaan van Zyl into the attack, and the effect was almost immediate.

The youngster, recently turned 23, induced McKenzie to fish at a wide ball, and instead of cutting it over point, he hit straight into the waiting hands of Justin Ontong.

Van Jaarsveld's demise was almost identical, but he tried to square-cut a wide delivery from Johann Louw, only to edge it to the keeper, Ryan Canning.

McKenzie had struck seven fours in his 122-ball 66 and Van Jaarsveld's 87 came off 103 balls with 14 fours and a maximum launched over cow corner.

Their runs compiled off 207 balls in 151 minutes.

Zander de Bruyn and Thami Tsolekile carried on the good work with a sixth-wicket partnership of 121, until Tsolekile lofted an easy caught-and-bowled chance back to Justin Ontong five runs shy of his 50.

Ontong got into the act again with a brilliant catch at point to dismiss De Bruyn, who found the ropes on 11 occasions and cleared them once in a 143-ball 76.

This was the stylish middle order batsman's 55th first-class 50, which saw him pass 10 000 first-class runs.