Dros hits maiden century as Titans punish Strikers

Northerns Titans captain Gerald Dros finally claimed his first first-class century as the Titans finished day three of their Supersport Series match against the Highveld Strikers with a 390-run lead at the Wanderers on Sunday.

The Strikers resumed on 170 for eight. Nic Pothas managed only 27 runs as Steve Elworthy began wrapping up the tail, finishing with figures of 4-34.

The home team eventually capitulated to 184 all out, with Adam Bacher top-scoring with 61. Dros declined to enforce the follow-on, and seemed in no hurry to force the advantage either.

Top-order contributions of 65 from Jacques Rudolph and 47 from Martin van Jaarsveld, the two combining for a second-wicket partnership of 93 runs, got the Titans' second innings off to a good start.

There was some controversy in Rudolph's dismissal, coming off what looked like a clear no-ball from Strikers paceman Johnson Mafa.

Ironically, Neil McKenzie celebrated his test call-up with a duck in the second innings on the back of his century in the first.

Dros and Martin van Jaarsveld provided the mainstay of the day's batting. Going into the tea break at 106 for three, Dros seemed hesitant to make use of his seven wickets in hand and took a very conservative approach to the innings.

It was only after the drinks break in the final session that the word seemed to come from the skipper to take on the likes of Clive Eksteen and Mafa.

The boundaries were far more forthcoming, and Dros claimed most of them on his way to a fine century. The rate at which the scoring increased is evident in that, on a score of 96 and before the four that took Dros to his century, the statistics revealed that he scored only four runs off the first 44 balls he faced and then 92 off the next 88 balls.

Dros eventually decided to declare on 248 for four, holding out for his century off 132 balls in 159 minutes and including 14 fours and two sixes.

With a lead of 420 runs, Dros gave his bowling attack the last 10 overs of the day to extract what they could from the Strikers, who finished the day on 30 for one.