Cook hits ton, Harris grabs five wickets

Highveld Lions opening bat Stephen Cook and Northern Titans spinner Paul Harris starred on the first day of South African SuperSport Series second round matches Thursday.

Cook finished unbeaten on 131 after a full day at the De Beers Oval crease in Northern Cape diamond city Kimberley as the Johannesburg-based Lions compiled 297-6 in 96 overs by the close of play.

He faced 282 balls and struck 20 fours with fellow opener and skipper Alviro Patersen (35) and number three Jonathan Vandiar (48) lending valuable support while Ryan McLaren and Dillon du Preez each took two expensive wickets for the Knights.

Titans showed no ill effects of a six-win hiding from the Knights last weekend as they bowled out the Coastal Dolphins for 243 in 87.5 overs and were 20 without loss when play ended at the City Oval in KwaZulu-Natal capital Pietermaritzburg.

Dolphins struggled from the start with opener Imran Khan going for nine and South Africa batting star Hashim Amla, who scored a double century at the Lions last weekend, made only 14 when he was trapped leg before.

Harris was the tormentor in chief, taking 5-37 in 26 overs that included eight maidens, and was ably backed by three-wicket Morne Morkel against the Dolphins whose highest scorer Daryn Smit was on 73 when he ran out of partners.