Centuries from Slade van Staden and Tshepang Dithole put the Hollywoodbets Dolphins in charge of their CSA 4-Day Domestic Series clash with the Knights in Bloemfontein.
The pair along with Bryce Parsons and Romashan Pillay put the Dolphins ahead as they finished the opening day on 374 for four after winning the toss and electing to bat first. Van Staden registered his first first-class hundred when he made 111 off 161 balls with 13 fours in his innings. Opener Dithole made his fourth first-class century with 104 off 186 balls. His knock also included 13 boundaries.
The partnership between the two for the second wicket was worth 161 as the pair took the Dolphins from 43 for one to 204 for two. The Dolphins lost their first wicket, that of SJ Erwee for 23 when he was caught by wicket keeper Gihahn Cloete off the bowling of veteran Malusi Siboto. It was then the turn of Van Staden and Dithole to take the game away from the home side through a large portion of day one. The pair were resolute and patient throughout to register crucial hundreds for the Dolphins.
Dithole was eventually caught off the bowling of Aubrey Swanepoel while Van Staden would have been disappointed when he chipped a Siboto delivery to Jacques Snyman at short cover. Jason Smith was dismissed cheaply for a single, bowled by Matthew Pollard with the Dolphins 293 for four.
Bryce Parsons continued the onslaught for the Dolphins with an important half century towards the end of the day. He finished the day undefeated on 78 while Romashan Pillay will resume on day two on 41. The partnership for the fifth wicket is undefeated on 81 going into day two on Friday.
SUMMARY OF SCORE
1st Innings
Hollywoodbets Dolphins 374/4 (S van Staden 111 T Dithole 104 B Parsons 78* R Pillay 41*)
