Proteas fast bowler Lutho Sipamla recorded his best first-class figures in an innings when he picked up six wickets to help the Lions bowl out the Warriors on day one of their CSA Four-Day Domestic Series encounter in Gqeberha on Friday.
The 23-year old seamer removed six of the Warriors batters at the expense of 34 runs as they dismissed their hosts for 96 within 49 overs. The Lions responded with 74/1 before bad light brought an end to the day's play.
At St George's Park, the Lions and the Warriors entered the game with added confidence - having claimed one win apiece.
The home side won the toss and elected to bat first, and the Lions bowlers began the game in fine form, with frontline bowlers Sipamla and Duanne Olivier (2/27) finding their line and lengths to make it difficult for the Warriors to find their rhythm at the crease.
Despite a 43-run, second-wicket stand between Matthew Breetzke (26) and Lesiba Ngoepe (39), the Lions pair ripped through the home side's batting order, taking eight wickets between them as the Warriors went from 58-2 to 96 all out.
Joshua Richards (29*) and Dominic Hendricks (36) led the away side's reply, with the Lions trailing by 22 runs with nine wickets in hand at stumps.
At SuperSport Park in Centurion, rising star Jordan Hermann stole the show for the Titans with a maiden first-class hundred in only his second-ever game at this level as the Titans posted 371-6 on day one against the Dolphins, with opener Neil Brand also adding (56) a half-century.
In the Western Cape derby, Rocks captain Pieter Malan (96) led from the front as they put on a competitive first innings score of 267 all out against the Western Province.
Mihlali Mpongwana ended with impressive figures of five for 39 before Province called it a day on 5-0.
Meanwhile, it was a batter's day in Potchefstroom, with the Knights scoring two centuries in their high-scoring innings of 418-8.
Skipper Pite van Biljon brought up 127 off 194 balls at the top of the innings, while Patrick Kruger celebrated a career-best and undefeated score of 192* of just 210 balls, including 22 fours and four sixes.
The action continues on Day 2 on Saturday.
CSA Four-Day Domestic Series Day 1 Scores:
Division One:
Western Province trail Rocks by 262 runs
Rocks: 267 / 10 after 93.5 overs; P. Malan 96 (176), S. von Berg 47 (137); M. Mpongwana 5 - 39, W. Parnell 2 - 51
Western Province: 5 / 0 after 3 overs; T. de Zorzi 4* (11), Y. Vallie 1* (7)
Titans lead the Dolphins by 371 runs
Titans: 371 / 6 after 82 overs; J. Hermann 112 (132), N Brand 56 (79); K. Mungroo 3 – 48, D. Dupavillon 1 – 49
Dolphins:
Lions trail the Warriors by 22 runs
Warriors: 96 / 10 after 49 overs; Lesiba Ngoepe 39 (104), M. Breetzke 26 (83); L Sipamla 6 – 34, D. Olivier 2 – 27
Lions: 74 / 1 after 24.4 overs; D. Hendricks 36 (75), J. Richards 29* (77); M. Nabe 1 – 23
Knights lead the North West Dragons by 418 runs
Knights: 418 / 8 after 94.5 overs; P. Kruger 192*(210), P. van Biljon 127 (194); S. Muthusamy 3 - 115, D. Potgieter 2 - 63
North West Dragons:
Division Two:
South Western Districts vs Mpumalanga Rhinos
No play due to wet outfield
Northern Cape Heat lead Tuskers by 252 runs
Northern Cape Heat: 252 / 6 after 83.2 overs; J. Vandiar 87 (179), R. Moonsamy 81 (150)
Tuskers:
Eastern Storm lead Limpopo Impalas by 297 runs
Eastern Storm: 297 / 4 after 82 overs; M. Twala 118* (222), S. Masondo 70* (98); S. Langa 2 - 45, M. Venter 1 - 42
Limpopo Impalas:
