Titans in driving seat against Griquas

After being bowled out for 321, the Northerns Titans restricted the Griqua Diamonds to a close of play score of 109 for three on the second day of their Supersport Series match at Supersport Park on Saturday.

Resuming on 160 for three, Northern's Neil McKenzie picked up where team-mate Martin van Jaarsveld left off, adding 70 runs of his own, including 11 fours and one six in his 219 minutes at the crease.

McKenzie guided his side to 228 before he was dismissed, caught behind by Wendell Bossenger off the bowling of Deon Kruis.

The dismissal ended a 70-run fourth-wicket partnership with Gerald Dros, and sparked a mini collapse of the Northerns batting order.

Dros (40) left the crease a mere 5.1 overs later, and the home side could manage only 85 runs for the remainder of their wickets.

Griquas paceman, Zahir Abrahim, was the most productive with his four wickets for 73 runs. But Northerns had nevertheless managed to fashion an impressive total out of a pitch that favoured the Griquas bowlers, even if they failed to take full advantage of it.

Griquas found themselves in immediate trouble in their innings. In stark contrast to the provincial record first-wicket partnership of 243 achieved by Mickey Arthur and Martyn Gidley against the Highveld Strikers two weeks ago, the visitors were reeling at four for one five overs, into their first innings.

A teasing delivery from Steve Elworthy found the hands of Gerald Dros in the slips, with Arthur yet to get off the mark then Dros sowed further panic in the Griquas ranks 11 overs later when he seemed to have caught Grant Elliott.

But the umpires decided it was not a clean catch. It proved a vital let-off for Griquas, with Elliott on five runs at that stage. Elliott went on to add a valuable 75 runs for the second wicket with Martyn Gidley.

But the spin of Nigel Brouwers made the breakthrough for Northerns, with Elliott clean bowled for 34 and Griquas at 79 for two.

Willie Dry offered little resistance with his one run, leaving Gidley (45 not out) and Pieter Koortzen (18 not out) as the men tasked with reviving the Griquas innings on Sunday morning.