Grant Roelofsen © Gallo Images

Grant Roelofsen scored a brilliant 115 as Goldrush Boland strengthened their position after lunch on the first day of their CSA 4-day series match against Dafabet Warriors at Boland Park on Thursday. Boland was 202/1 at tea.

At tea, Boland had Pieter Malan (74*) and Gavin Kaplan (9*) in the crease.

Boland, who won the toss and elected to bat first, absorbed the pressure in the first session. In the afternoon, the openers transferred the pressure to the bowling attack. The counter-attack was led by Grant Roelofsen, who was responsible for increasing the home team’s run rate.

Roelofsen faced 161 balls to reach his first hundred of the season and his first ton for Boland. His second 50 was faster than the first. Roelofsen faced 99 deliveries to reach 50 and just 62 to reach the century. The opener was dismissed after scoring a magnificent 115 off 171 deliveries. He had shared a 191-run opening partnership with Pieter Malan.

Unlike Roelofsen, who was more attacking, Malan played a more measured innings. The 35-year-old opener patiently worked his way to a 56th first-class half-century. He faced 117 balls to reach this milestone. He was Roelofsen’s stroke play foil.

Senuran Muthusamy was the only wicket-taker for the Warriors after lunch. The spinner took one wicket for 74 runs in 23 overs. Despite being wicketless, Siya Plaatjie bowled well in his 11 overs, conceding only 25 runs.

BOLAND: Grant Roelofsen, Pieter Malan, Gavin Kaplan, Aviwe Mgijima, Clyde Fortuin (capt)(week), Michael Copeland, Shaun von Berg, Keith Dudgeon, Jevano Baron, Ayabulela Gqamane, Glenton Stuurman

WARRIORS: Jordan Hermann, Jean du Plessis, Matthew Breetzke (captain), Matthew de Villiers, Sinethemba Qeshile (week), Senuran Muthusamy, Andile Mogakane, Ethan Frosler, Duanne Olivier, Jason Raubenheimer, Siyabulela Plaatjie.