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Johannesburg - Skipper Neil McKenzie led from the front with a magnificent century, guiding the Highveld Lions to 296/6 at the close on day one of their SuperSport Series match against the Dolphins at the Wanderers on Thursday.
When stumps were drawn De Bruyn was unbeaten on 58, having notched up his 47th first-class fifty, with Tsolekile yet to get off the mark.
The Lions got off to a poor start after McKenzie won the toss, with Dolphins pace bowler Johann Louw bagging two early wickets.
Makeshift Lions opener Werner Coetsee was caught behind by Daryn Smit in the third over and Jonathan Vandiar was removed in the 11th to put the hosts on the back foot.
But McKenzie led a recovery with two big partnerships. The skipper first combined with Coetsee’s opening partner, Stephen Cook, in a 135-run stand for the third wicket.
Shortly before tea, however, Cook sliced a Jon Kent delivery to Dave Miller at backward point. The opener made 63 runs from 148 balls for his 22nd first-class half-century in a controlled innings that included six boundaries.
Three overs later Vaughn van Jaarsveld followed him to the change rooms, contributing only four runs before he got an edge off Pierre de Bruyn to Ahmed Amla in the slips.
Zander de Bruyn, however, joined McKenzie in a 117-run stand for the fifth-wicket as the pair regained control for the home side.
McKenzie, put down by Miller on 123, made 140 before Kent had him trapped leg-before wicket with three overs left in the day.
Five balls later Kent also removed Monty Panesar for a duck, but Zander De Bruyn and Thamo Tsolekile successfully negotiated the last two overs before stumps were drawn. Seam bowler Kent picked up 3/41 to lead the Dolphins attack, while Louw bagged 2/34.
The veteran skipper spent more than five-and-a-half hours at the crease, smashing 21 fours in compiling his 31st career century and his second of the season. Along the way, he also passed the 6 000-runs milestone in South Africa’s premier first-class competition.
When stumps were drawn De Bruyn was unbeaten on 58, having notched up his 47th first-class fifty, with Tsolekile yet to get off the mark.
The Lions got off to a poor start after McKenzie won the toss, with Dolphins pace bowler Johann Louw bagging two early wickets.
Makeshift Lions opener Werner Coetsee was caught behind by Daryn Smit in the third over and Jonathan Vandiar was removed in the 11th to put the hosts on the back foot.
But McKenzie led a recovery with two big partnerships. The skipper first combined with Coetsee’s opening partner, Stephen Cook, in a 135-run stand for the third wicket.
Shortly before tea, however, Cook sliced a Jon Kent delivery to Dave Miller at backward point. The opener made 63 runs from 148 balls for his 22nd first-class half-century in a controlled innings that included six boundaries.
Three overs later Vaughn van Jaarsveld followed him to the change rooms, contributing only four runs before he got an edge off Pierre de Bruyn to Ahmed Amla in the slips.
Zander de Bruyn, however, joined McKenzie in a 117-run stand for the fifth-wicket as the pair regained control for the home side.
McKenzie, put down by Miller on 123, made 140 before Kent had him trapped leg-before wicket with three overs left in the day.
Five balls later Kent also removed Monty Panesar for a duck, but Zander De Bruyn and Thamo Tsolekile successfully negotiated the last two overs before stumps were drawn. Seam bowler Kent picked up 3/41 to lead the Dolphins attack, while Louw bagged 2/34.
The veteran skipper spent more than five-and-a-half hours at the crease, smashing 21 fours in compiling his 31st career century and his second of the season. Along the way, he also passed the 6 000-runs milestone in South Africa’s premier first-class competition.
