Mall and Prince score big hundreds

The drought in Bloemfontein extended to Goodyear Park as wickets became as sought after as rain on a pitch that offered no assistance to the bowlers. In three days 989 runs has been scored while only 15 wickets have gone down.

Starting the third day on 175 for 2 Ashraf Mall and Wade Wingfield took the score to 232 and their partnership to 96 when Wingfield edged Cliff Deacon to Morne van Wyk for 82. Mall then combined with Dale Benkenstein for a 74-run partnership for the fourth wicket before a sedate Benkenstein was trapped leg-before by Deon Kruis for 36. Mall, taking full advantage of the easy pitch, went to his maiden first-class hundred in just under five and a half hours. It took him 209 balls and included 12 fours.

The runs kept coming, and Mall put on 123 with Jon Kent who fell to Jacob Malao after he'd reached his half-century. The wicket of Duncan Brown shortly afterwards meant the Dolphins's captain Lance Klusener was the other man undefeated at the close; Mall was on the field throughout and had guided the Dolphins to 448 for 6, with himself on an unbeaten 150.

The Eagles, with 5.76, have more bonus points than the Dolphins, with 5.46. Unless a miracle is performed by one of the teams, it's going to stay that way.

At Centurion the Titans claimed a first-innings lead of 102 thanks to the efforts of Godfrey Toyana, with 43, and Albie Morkel, with 65, after they had started the day on 267 for 5. Brent Kops kept the Warriors in the game by picking up three of the five wickets to fall.

Batting for a second time the Warriors started shakily by losing two wickets for 34 before Mark Bruyns and Arno Jacobs revived the innings with an unbroken 178-run partnership, which will continue tomorrow. Bruyns completed his 16th first-class hundred, Jacobs is on 71, and the Warriors's total is a healthy 212 for 2.

In Paarl Ashwell Prince made his first hundred of the 2004-05 season as Western Province Boland piled on the runs against the Lions to finish on 450 for 5 when stumps were drawn.

The Lions's bowlers found the going tough, and only took three wickets during the day. The early dismissal of JP Duminy proved a false dawn for further inroads. A 183-run partnership between Prince and Thami Tsolekile followed, with Tsolekile contributing 81. Coming in at number five at a request of South Afrcia's selectors, Tsolekile struck nine fours in his four-hour stay. Prince carried on and scored his highest first-class score. He was finally dismissed for 184, after nearly six hours at the crease. He hit 20 fours.

At stumps Western Province Boland had forged ahead by 88 with five first-innings wickets left.