Johannesburg – Hundreds by Stephen Cook and Neil McKenzie ensured the Highveld Lions made the most progress on another weather-hit day of the domestic first-class cricket series.
While the Cape Cobras lost the entire day two of their clash with the Titans at Sahara Willowmoore Park in Benoni to rain, the Lions extended their lead over their closest rivals on the early-season points table by notching up 400 for three declared and claiming three Warriors wickets.
It was an impressive showing by the Lions at Senwes Park, where they began day two on 149 for two with Cook on 78 and McKenzie on 35.
By the time Rusty Theron trapped Cook lbw to separate the pair, the Lions had 333 on the board and Cook had made 175 Ä his second century in successive matches.
McKenzie finished unbeaten on 153, with Temba Bavuma alongside him on 25 not out, as the Lions lost no further wickets prior to their declaration shortly before tea.
Michael Price and Burton de Wett then fell early as the Warriors crashed to 13 for two in reply, but a solid 60 not out from opener David White helped the visitors to 132 for three when bad light brought a premature end to the day, with Colin Ingram the other not-out batsman on 22.
After losing day one to the weather, the match between the Dolphins and the Knights in Pietermaritzburg finally got underway after lunch on day two, with an unbroken stand of 134 between Cody Chetty and Khaya Zondo giving the hosts the upper hand.
The Dolphins recovered from 72 for three to go to stumps on 206
for three, with Chetty unbeaten on 65 and Zondo on 77 not out.
Twenty-year-old paceman Corne Dry grabbed two of the three wickets to fall as he dismissed Divan van Wyk and Vaughn van Jaarsveld on his way to figures of 2 for 37. – Sapa