Cobras feel the sting of the Lions

CAPTAIN Dane Piedt has said all season that his young Cape Cobras team will encounter some hardships along the way.

After convincingly winning their opening four matches of the season that propelled the Cobras to the top of the 4-Day Franchise Series log, there was growing feeling that this was only a statement of caution.

But yesterday, the second day of the clash against the Highveld Lions, the skipper’s words reverberated. The Cobras were bundled out for 138 – their lowest total tthis season – which gave the Lions a 199-run advantage after the visitors added a further 37 runs to their overnight total to close their innings on 337.

The home team had no answer to the seam and spin of the Lions, medium pacers Nono Pongolo (3/29) and Nandre Burger (2/34) setting up spinners Aaron Phangiso (3/11) and Bjorn Fortuin (2/23) to rip through the Cobras line-up.

The only consolation for the Cobras on another bitterly cold day in Paarl was the performances of Dane Paterson and Zubayr Hamza. Paterson (5/81) is arguably the form pace bowler of the series, the Proteas seamer picking up a second consecutive “five-for” to add to the six wickets he claimed last week in the victory over the Dolphins.

Hamza, meanwhile, battled gainfully for his 56 off 113 balls, although the promising right-hander would have been livid with his dismissal just as he was properly settled at the crease.

The Lions are in the pound seats due to their 303-run overall lead with Nicky van der Bergh unbeaten on 41 and Fortuin on eight.

Their only concern will be whether Rassie van der Dussen can return after being stung by a bee without facing a ball.