The EP Warriors clinched a thrilling one-wicket victory over the Northerns Titans in Centurion on Monday.
The Gqeberha-based team entered the final day’s play needing 54 runs to win with three wickets in hand after all-rounder Marco Jansen (55 off 59 balls) and Lesiba Ngoepe’s knocks had taken them close to the target of 235 for victory on day three.
The visitors added 15 quick runs in the first few overs of the day, with Ngoepe going on to bring up his 25th first-class half-century.
New man at the crease Tiaan van Vuuren was the aggressor, scoring a quickfire 32* off 34 balls despite finally losing Ngoepe (52) and then Glenton Stuurman (six).
The former SA U19 youngster then combined well with last man in, Mthiwekhaya Nabe (10*), to take the Warriors over the line and seal a statement victory away from home.
They joined the Central Gauteng Lions as the only Division One side with a first-round win following their innings and 72-run defeat of the North West Dragons this past Sunday.
In Bloemfontein, the Boland Rocks batters stole the show on the final day with Janneman Malan’s 200* off 319 balls and Ferisco Adams’ 127 off 238 taking them to a first-innings score of 520-9 dec.
After the entire first day of the game was rained out, the Free State Knights went into their second innings trailing by 200 runs. They managed 143-2, with Jacques Snyman scoring 49, before the captains shook hands for a draw.
Meanwhile, at Newlands, the KZN Dolphins and Western Province had to share the points after their final day was curtailed by rain with WP stranded on 190-7, still 30 runs behind in their second innings after being made to follow on.
Round two of the 4-Day Series gets under way this Friday, with all matches streamed live on SuperSport’s YouTube Channel.
4-Day Series Day 4 scores:
Division One:
EP Warriors beat Northerns Titans by one wicket
Titans: 134 & 359
Warriors: 258 & 236-9 after 65.1 overs; L Ngoepe 52 (82), M Jansen 55 (59); J Dala 3-59, C Bosch 2-57
Central Gauteng Lions beat North West Dragons by an innings and 72 runs
Dragons: 159 & 177
Lions: 408
Western Province drew with KZN Dolphins
Dolphins: 489-8 dec
WP: 269 & 190-7 (f/o) after 50 overs; Y Vallie 76 (109), D Bedingham 50 (49); D Dupavillon 4-35, B Parsons 2-59
Free State Knights drew with Boland Rocks
Knights: 320 & 143-2 after 41 overs; J Snyman 49 (68), R van Tonder 33* (74); S von Berg 1-41, Z Abrahams 1-48
Rocks: 520-9 dec after 146.5 overs; J Malan 200* (319), F Adams 127 (238), M Budaza 3-96, N van Heerden 3-99
Division Two:
KZN Inland Tuskers beat Eastern Storm by an innings and 109 runs
Tuskers: 440-6 dec
Storm: 107 & 224 after 110.1 overs; J Snyman 64 (131), W Coulentianos 62 (190); M Erlank 5-67, K Dudgeon 3-32
Eastern Cape Iinyathi drew with Limpopo Impalas
Iinyathi: 392 & 190-3 dec
Impalas: 192 & 377-8 after 125.5 overs; M Nofal 96* (201), L Kgoatle 60 (92); G Peters 3-51, T Kaber 3-110
Photo: Christiaan Kotze/BackpagePix
