Cobras behind the eight ball

ALTHOUGH their blushes were saved by inclement weather in Durban in their previous Sunfoil Series match against the Dolphins, the Warriors bounced back to limit the Cape Cobras to 291 all out thanks to a superb bowling display at Buffalo Park yesterday.

Basheer Walters was the man to lead the Warriors in their onslaught against Ashwell Prince’s men, the seamer claiming figures of 3/42 in short spells through out the day. But what helped Walters along the way was a fantastic supporting performance from Sisanda Magala, with 3/71 off 19 overs.

Andrew Puttick, every reliable for the Cape team, was the only mainstay at the crease as he notched up 85 runs off a watchful 186 balls. Down the order, Aviwe Mgijima provided a little resistance as he got to a half century off 92 balls.

There was just enough time for the Warriors to pad up as the day drew to a close, but when Gionne Koopman fell three balls into the second over of the Warriors’ innings, play was ended with Eastern Cape team on 5/1 as they look to their batsmen to support a solid bowling effort on day two.

Meanwhile, in Benoni, the Lions managed to work up some decent partnerships in their first day’s action against the table-topping Titans. The Lions ended day one on 265/8 thanks to efforts from the second and third-wicket partnerships.

Reeza and Dominic Hendricks were the first to frustrate the Titans with their second wicket stand of 79, but not to be outdone, Nicky van den Bergh and Devon Conway put on 128 runs for the third wicket. The star for the Titans with the ball was Malusi Siboto, who claimed three wickets for only 30 runs in 17 overs while newlycapped Proteas Test player Tabraiz Shamsi was made to toil for 30 overs on day one for his haul of 2/87.

In Kimberly the entire day was washed out between the Knights and the Dolphins as stumps were called early on day one. –