A wink and a smile from Dad does it for Puttick

CAPE COBRAS captain Omphile Ramela has saluted the character of his opening partner Andrew Puttick.

Puttick missed the second match of the Cobras’ Sunfoil Series campaign due to the ill health of his father. However, he showed a great deal of character to play the first home game of the season last weekend against the Warriors.

It was clear that Puttick was affected by his personal issues, as he dropped two catches at slip that he would usually take. It wasn’t until he had a bat in his hand that the 35-yearold could focus on his job.

“On the morning of my innings, I said hi to him (his father) and he gave me a smile and a wink which I will treasure for some time,” Puttick told the Cobras’ website.

He played superbly, batting for almost seven hours to compile 124 off 320 balls.

The length of his innings was significant as it formed part of a 266-run stand with Ramela (170 off 370 balls) that ensured the Cobras survived any scares in response to the Warriors’ 525/7 declared.

“It was a special knock. He created something spectacular for him and his father,” Ramela said of Puttick’s 25th first-class century.

The timing of his innings was also significant, as the senior core had initially struggled this season. Prior to the Newlands run-fest, Puttick had scored just four runs, while Ramela was slightly better with 33.

Ramela showed that once he negotiates the new ball, he is able to set his stall. The skipper’s latest ton is one of a string of big centuries he has scored over the past two seasons, which includes a double-hundred last season.

“We needed some runs under the belt. I think it is important in a fourday campaign that people start scoring big runs. I think as a team that is the standard we set for ourselves. It is important that we do it when we (are) under pressure too and there is a result to be chased, that’s when we need the big performances,” he said.

Ramela stressed that the Cape franchise still has plenty to do in order to haul in the series leaders, the Knights. The Cobras are in last place on the standings as they are the only team without a victory and face another tough challenge when defending champions, the Titans, visit Newlands tomorrow.

“I think we can definitely improve on the batting. If I am being ultracritical we can bat quicker, but I think the state of the game dictated that we first had to get ourselves in a safe zone,” Ramela said.

“I think there is lot of work to be done with regards to the bowling too. We didn’t bowl in partnerships. We didn’t create enough pressure on their batsmen. I think the next game we need to concentrate on putting good batsmen under pressure.”

Meanwhile, Cobras coach Paul Adams is set to hand former South Africa Under-19 wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne a franchise debut this week, after regular gloveman Dane Vilas left for Australia to join up with the Proteas for their three-Test tour of Australia.