CAPE TOWN - Half centuries by Dean Elgar and Heinrich Klaasen helped the Titans take control of the Warriors at the halfway stage of their round two 4-Day Domestic Series encounter in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.
There were also four wickets from Lizaad Williams at St George’s Park where the hosts were first bowled out for 231, before the visitors replied with 151 for three.
That left the Centurion-based outfit trailing by 80 at the close, with right-hander Klaasen unbeaten on 50 (83 balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes).
It was a good day all-round for Mandla Mashimbyi’s side as they looked to make up for lost time due to rain on the opening day.
They began the morning in the field where they had the Warriors on 137 for four, with four wickets falling relatively quickly to leave the home side in deep trouble.
Williams (4/64) claimed two of the victims – top-scorer Gihahn Cloete (66 off 173 balls, 9 fours, 1 six) and Glenton Stuurman (0) – with Okuhle Cele (2/36) and Grant Thomson (2/9) also striking.
The hosts slumped to 170 for eight at one stage, before being mildly rescued by Jon-Jon Smuts (41 not out) and Tshepo Ntuli (30) through a 42-run nineth wicket stand.
Junio Dala (2/85) then mopped up the tail with the locals dismissed in 73.5 overs.
STUMPS: The covers will stay on & the players won't be returning to the field as the umpires call stumps on Day 2 of #WARvTTN.
— The Titans (@Titans_Cricket) November 10, 2020
We will resume tomorrow on 151-3 with Heinrich Klaasen (50*) & Sibonelo Makhanya (12*) & a 80 run deficit. #4DaySeries
How good was this guy 👇![CDATA[]]>🏽today? pic.twitter.com/TumkQ4wQio
The Titans reply did not start off well as Aiden Markram (17) and Theunis de Bruyn (0) were dismissed in the same over by Stuurman (2/42), playing his first match since his maiden call up by the Proteas for their upcoming limited-overs series against England.
It left the score on 27 for two, before Elgar and Klaasen knuckled down and put on 102 for the third wicket to help their side get out of trouble.
South Africa opener Elgar, who has begun the season with scores of 101 and 58 in round one, eventually fell to Smuts (1/40), caught by Sinethemba Qeshile, for 66 (128 balls, 10 fours), with Sibonelo Makhanya (12) unbeaten alongside Klaasen at the close.
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