Caope Town - Fighting half-centuries from Daryn Smit and David Miller helped the Nashua Dolphins to 146 for three at stumps on the second day of their SuperSport Series match against the Nashua Cape Cobras at Sahara Park Newlands on Friday.

With their team struggling on 47 for three Smit and Miller knuckled down to defy the home team’s bowlers for 33.3 overs as their unbroken fourth-wicket partnership produced 99 runs.

Smit ended the day not out on 68 off 136 deliveries with 10 fours to his name while the left-handed Miller struck nine fours and a six in making his way to an unbeaten 55 off 107 balls.

The visitors trail the home side by 331 runs on the first innings but their plight could have been a lot worse if not for the efforts of Smit and Miller.

The Durban-based franchise, after losing the wicket of Bradley Barnes (four) in the fifth over of their reply, suffered a further blow when captain Imraan Khan (12) edged a delivery from former Dolphins seamer Johann Louw through to keeper Ryan Canning to limp to tea on 46 for two.

Ahmed Amla (two) faced just four balls after the break before he was trapped leg-before by paceman Vernon Philander before Miller joined Smit at the crease.

Philander ended the day with figures of two for 40.

Earlier, Stiaan van Zyl tormented the Dolphins’ bowlers as the Cobras declared their first innings closed on 477 for eight

Van Zyl, who began the day on 133, took his score to 157 after having brought up his 150 off 264 balls.

The left-handed batsman eventually departed when he edged a delivery from Chetty through to keeper Smit.

Van Zyl batted for six hours and 24 minutes while facing 271 deliveries. In all the 22 year old struck 20 boundaries and two sixes as he and Henry Davids shared in a fourth-wicket stand of 69 runs.

The Cobras scored 45 runs for the loss of four wickets after lunch before declaring with Davids completing his half-century before becoming left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj’s first SuperSport Series wicket.

Davids departed for a patient 56 off 126 balls after fast bowler Quinton Friend had accounted for Canning (13), caught behind by Smit.

Smit had a hand in the other two wickets to fall as he ended the innings with five catches to his name.

Friend removed Robin Peterson (12) to claim figures of three for 122 while debutant seamer Kemeshin Chetty snared the last wicket to fall, that of Philander (nine), to end with three for 123.

Teams

Nashua Cape Cobras - Andrew Puttick (capt), Alistair Gray, Stiaan van Zyl, Henry Davids, Justin Ontong, Ryan Canning (wk), Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Rory Kleinveldt, Johann Louw, Monde Zondeki.

Nashua Dolphins - Imraan Khan (capt), Bradley Barnes, Jon Kent, Ahmed Amla, David Miller, Khaya Zondo, Bradley Moses, Daryn Smit (wk), Quinton Friend, Keshav Maharaj, Kemeshin Chetty.