Cobras batsmen on song

Johannesburg - Three centuries were scored on the opening day of the domestic four-day Sunfoil Series with only two matches being played around the country on Thursday.

Full scorecard: Lions v Cobras

Full scorecard: Knights v Titans

The Cape Cobras, won the toss against the Lions, in Potchefstroom, and ended the day on 322 for the loss of two wickets.

The Capetonians enjoyed a 188-run opening partnership between Alistair Gray and Andrew Puttick, which ended when Gray was eventually bowled, for 71 runs, by Pumelela Matshikwe in the 56th over of the day.

Puttick went on to reach his 18th first class century, off 186-balls, scoring 19 boundaries and was 166 not out at the close of play.

The only other wicket to fall at Senwes Park was that of Yaseen Vallie, who was caught by Lions’ captain Alviro Petersen off the bowling of Imran Tahir.

While Tahir conceded 90 runs for his one wicket, off 28 overs, he also somehow managed to bowl 14 no-balls.

The pick of the bowlers was Matshikwe, who took 36 for one off his 17 overs.

The only other match played was at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley where the Knights entertained the Titans.

The Knights, who won the toss and decided to bat, were 355 for seven at stumps.

Ryan Bailey was not out on 157 while the other century-maker was Morné van Wyk.

Van Wyk batted superbly for his 133 runs, off 188-balls, before he edged Ethy Mbhalati to Jacques Rudolph at second slip.

In the previous over, he knocked three fours off De Villiers as two-thirds of his runs came off boundaries.

His century came off 156-balls, which included 14 fours and two sixes.

Bailey was equally impressive with his seventh first-class hundred coming off 159-balls smashing 16 fours.

Mbhalati, meanwhile, was on a hat-trick after his breakthrough to get rid of Van Wyk, as he dismissed Ryan McLaren off the next ball.

McLaren got an edge to wicketkeeper Heino Kuhn for his duck but the seam bowler had to wait several more overs before taking another dismissal.

Mbhalati finished with 4/60 after grabbing the early wicket of Reeza Hendricks (10), caught behind, and Aubrey Swanepoel (16) who was the last man down before stumps.

The Knights were forced to leave the field three overs short for the day, due to bad light.