Nel blazes to half-ton

Benoni - Fast bowler Andre Nel celebrated his return from injury with a whirlwind half century as the Highveld Lions made a massive 562 for eight declared on the second day of their Supersport Series match against the Titans at Willowmoore Park on Friday.

The Lions, who resumed play on 375 for five declared, added 187 runs for the loss of three wickets. Zander de Bruyn was first to go, leg before wicket to Basheer Walters for 69. It was his 49th first-class half century.

Cliffie Deacon and Thami Tsolekile shared a seventh wicket stand of 71 before Deacon was caught by Pieter Malan off Shaun von Berg for 29.

His departure brought Nel to the crease. Nel, playing in his first match for several months, was obviously raring to go, and showed the Titans no mercy, as he bludgeoned his way to 50 off just 27 balls. He hit two fours and five towering sixes. Thami Tsolekile was caught behind by Heino Kuhn off Walters for 82, and Craig Alexander, also celebrating his return to cricket after being laid off with an injury, joined Nel in battering the Titans bowlers, scoring 13 off 13 balls, including two sixes.

A feature of the Lions batting was that six players passed the 50 mark, although there were also six half-century partnerships.

When Alexander, with just one stump to aim at, brilliantly ran out Blake Snijman for 11 in the fifth over, the Lions must have cast their minds back to the last Supersport encounter between the two teams, when they thrashed their northern neighbours by an innings and 216 runs, but the pitch offered little for the bowlers, and it was once again a case of the bowlers labouring in the sun while the Titans batsmen made hay.

At close of play, Pieter Malan was not out on 41 and Jacques Rudolph had 69.

It was his 54th first class half century, and he looked set to carry on and make a big score.

Nel was economical in his bowling, conceding 27 off his nine overs, but Deacon had a bit of a nightmare, with 10 no balls.

Unless the bowlers discover some magic formula, the match appears to be heading for a draw.