Cobras total proves to be a bridge too far for Warriors

THE MOMENTUM One-Day Cup continued to produce the runs last night, as the Cape Cobras proved too much for the Warriors in East London, winning by 57 runs.

The visitors, who won the toss and elected to bat first, amassed 319/6 in their 50 overs.

Richard Levi (73) and Omphile Ramela 58 got things going upfront, with the former playing in typically belligerent fashion. He was particularly harsh on Sisanda Magala, who did eventually get his revenge.

But, by then, Levi had done considerable damage, and set the Cape side on their way to a mammoth total.

Ramela, a lot more deliberate in his approach, nudged along to a steady 58 at the other end. Wicketkeeper Dane Vilas added 46, while the in-form Stiaan van Zyl chipped in with 44 and again looked like he could have gone on to bigger things.

History dictates that anything beyond 250 is too much at Buffalo Park, and so it proved for the home side.

There was, though, one bright spark, even in the doom of a second defeat in as many games for the Eastern Cape outfit.

Yaseen Vallie’s lone hand of 93 not out was a measure in poise and promise, as he found the boundary with some silky shots.

Such was his impact, he even managed to get under the skin of Protea ace Vernon Philander, who gave him a few choice words.

It didn’t disturb the righthander, though, and he eventually ran out of partners, stranded on 93 from 96 balls, with the home side well short of their target.

Andrew Birch, ever the heart of the Warriors side, tried valiantly to stay with Vallie, with a spirited 39 off 31 balls. For the Cobras, Jason Smith continued to impress with ball in hand, helping himself to 4/38, including the final scalp of the night, as the Warriors folded for 262.