As this week’s round of Sunfoil Series matches move towards their conclusions, there was some huge encouragement for new Proteas Ottis Gibson.

Thursday’s third days of the respective fixtures saw his experienced players all play themselves into form.

Here’s how things went for the national players.

COBRAS

Faced with a massive deficit of 464 after the Knights stacked a huge 623/4 declared, the Capetonians were rescued by a certain bearded star.

Hashim Amla – after continuing a frustrating run where he got a start in the first innings that ended prematurely – stroked a serene, unbeaten 121 by the end of the day.

His form going into next week’s Test against Bangladesh can’t be in doubt now as he also made 56 in the first innings.

Of concern though was Temba Bavuma being dismissed for a golden duck, meaning he goes into the series without time in the middle.

TITANS

Dean Elgar cranked himself into gear with a magnificent 139 in his side’s second innings against the Dolphins.

The pace at which he scored was also notable – a strike rate of 84.

Young Aiden Markram virtually played himself into the Test side with an brutal 87 off just 89 balls, adding to his 117 in the first innings.

Quinton de Kock made a duck but at least he made a fifty in the first batting effort.

The lanky Morne Morkel then plunged the Dolphins into big trouble with a spell of 2/7 in four overs.

DOLPHINS

A bad day at the office for the Durbanites.

Andile Phehlukwayo didn’t complete his sixth over after going for 36 runs while spinner Keshav Maharaj was smashed for 70 runs in 13 overs.

As the No 1 spinner in the Test side, Maharaj’s match form was a worry.

KNIGHTS

Duanne Olivier bowled 14 wicket-less overs for 50 runs as Amla and Justin Ontong put on a masterclass of batting in Bloemfontein.

HIGHVELD LIONS

Despite the match against the Warriors being evenly poised, Kagiso Rabada’s wretched luck continued.

He was once again economical in his eight overs, only conceding 20, but he’s yet to take a wicket in the match.