Duminy’s big knock boosts Cobras
A JP DUMINY special (67 from 44 deliveries) elevated the Cobras from the bottom of the log as they claimed a thrilling three-wicket win over the Knights at Newlands yesterday.
After losing the first three matches of their campaign, the Cobras won both of their fixtures this weekend and will feel much more confident of making the cut for the playoffs as this Ram Slam progresses towards the business end of the tournament.
Duminy won the toss and put the Knights in to bat, and Rory Kleinveldt (3-19) shone with the ball as he accounted for opener Leus du Plooy (16 off 15) and then claimed the two big fish of Theunis de Bruyn (40 off 22) and David Miller (50 off 37). Ferisco Adams (0-21) bowled with accuracy and was rewarded with a miserly economy rate, although he did not manage a wicket.
The Knights’ 159 for seven should not have posed too daunting a tally, even if the wicket did slow up a bit, but the Cobras certainly did not find the chase straightforward.
Richard Levi (3) and Temba Bavuma (7) stayed true to their poor form of late and Hashim Amla (29 off 24) scratched around before he played on to the spin of Eddie Leie (2-38). JP Duminy once again had his work cut out for him as wickets fell around the skipper and he had to anchor the innings.
At 108 for 6 in the 16th over the run rate required touched 11 rpo and it looked as if Duminy was going to run out of partners but he finally found some assistance in the form of big Vernon Philander (22 not out off 11) and the large home crowd were treated to lots of fireworks as the pair crafted a quick 50 partnership and the Cobras got up in style with six balls to spare.
Earlier, a scintillating knock of 89 runs by Colin Ingram helped the Warriors chase down 183 runs with four wickets in hand, their first Ram Slam win of the season, and rounded off a miserable visit to the Cape by the Lions who also lost to the Cobras in Paarl on Friday.
The Lions’ openers made use of a great batting surface accumulating 87 runs before Rassie van der Dussen (45 off 30 deliveries) was given LBW to Smuts, despite being a long way down the track. The Lions got off to a handsome start with the ball when Kagiso Rabada (3-25) made light work of both opening batsmen and reduced the chase to 13 for two in the third over. Gihahn Cloete (1) nicked off and was dismissed to an incredible catch by Mangaliso Mosehle with the gloves, diving to his left in front of first slip.
Colin Ingram (89 off 48) picked up the pieces and consolidated with Colin Ackerman (17 off 17) and then looked to up the ante with Christiaan Jonker (39 off 28) in the middle overs. The 12th over proved a decisive turning point when Aaron Phangiso was taken to the cleaners and pummeled for 25 runs from the over by way of some wonderful stroke-play.
In the 14th over Marques Ackerman caught Ingram on the boundary then threw the ball back in and caught it again. Ingram (on 57) wasn’t walking anywhere until the third umpire had had a good look at his monitor, which revealed that Ackerman’s foot had touched the rope before catching the ball. A six was awarded to the Warriors.
Rabada came back on to deny Ingram his century and Jonker fell too but Lesiba Ngoepe (10) chipped in and Maphelo Nqolo (12 not out) saw the elated Warriors home with an over to spare.