Qeshile ton rescues Warriors, Roelofsen and Kaplan score big in Paarl.

Warriors wicket-keeper/batter Sinethemba Qeshile is having one of the best weeks of his life.

The 26-year-old received his maiden One-Day International call-up for the tour of Pakistan on Monday, and on Thursday backed up the selection with 129 off 211 deliveries against Western Province in the first CSA Four-Day fixture of the season.

Qeshile’s knock helped the Warriors set 281 all out on Day One at St George’s Park in Gqeberha as Dane Paterson (3/42), Beuran Hendricks (3/42) and Tshepo Moreki (2/67) led Province’s attack brilliantly.

However, Qeshile was just too good on Day One, as he displayed patience and discipline on his way to securing his fifth First-Class century.

Just a week ago, the right-handed batter had blasted 186 against New Zealand ‘A’ in Benoni, his career-best, and put himself on the national selectors’ radar for a future spot in the Proteas Test squad.

Following that 186, Qeshile told Independent Media that he needs to back up that knock with another good performance against Western Province in order to catch the selectors’ attention.

In another fixture, Boland hosted the Titans at Boland Park in Paarl, looking to stamp their authority and dominate in the new season.

Opening batter Grant Roelofsen and Gavin Kaplan led the home team’s batting effort, putting together a mammoth 280-run partnership for the second wicket and put Boland in the driving seat following the early dismissal of key batter Pieter Malan.

Roelofsen scored a 230-ball 150, while Kaplan finished unbeaten on 167 off 272 deliveries to help the hosts reach 367/2 at stumps.

Experienced batter Aviwe Mgijima finished the opening day unbeaten on 32 while Titans bowlers, fast bowler Dayyaan Galiem (1/44) and spinner Tsepo Ndwandwa (1/54), were the only two successful bowlers in Paarl.

In the high veld, the North West Dragons locked horns against the newly promoted Tuskers at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom.

The Tuskers brought their big guns for the fixture as they selected Hardus Viljoen and Bamanye Xenxe, who both represented the Dragons last season, although Viljoen was on loan for one game at the Dragons.

The Dragons themselves unleashed their new recruits, including fast bowler Alfred Mothoa and left-arm spinner Jade de Klerk. Bowling first on Day One, opening bowlers Mothoa and Ryan de Swardt helped the Dragons secure a good start, removing Tuskers’ opening batters Malcolm Nofal (0) and Kagiso Rapulana (3) cheaply.

However, Michael Erlank (95 not out) and Cameron Shekleton (54) helped the Tuskers recover as the visitors reached stumps with the scoreboard reading 207/5.