Amla steers Cobras to commanding total against Warriors

HASHIM Amla’s second 50 of the tournament and 27th in total helped the Cobras post a total of 159-4 after choosing to bat first in their Ram Slam T20 Challenge match against the Warriors at Boland Park yesterday.

Amla continued his stellar form with a wristy, carefully crafted 52 from 36 deliveries, with three fours and a six, on a slow pitch which made for awkward stroke-play.

The Cobras’ decision to drop underperforming opener Richard Levi and promote Temba Bavuma to open with Amla appeared to pay dividends, with an opening stand of 90 in 12 overs, before Amla edged seamer Sisanda Magala to Jon Jon Smuts at slip.

Bavuma was far less efficient in the conditions, which included a bumpy and slow outfield due to the Cape drought, but nevertheless battled his way to 42 from as many balls before chipping a return catch to Warriors captain Smuts.

The home side sprung a surprise on the opposition – and most supporters – by promoting left arm spinner George Linde to No 3, and he produced a muscular response despite Andrew Birch claiming the scalps of J P Duminy (6) and Qaasim Adams (0) soon after his arrival.

Linde hammered a remarkable 52 not out from just 30 deliveries, with three fours and two sixes – a rare success for the often tempting gamble to throw a good tailend hitter up the order.

● Last week, the rain seemed to be following the Dolphins around but then they seemed to have left that curse with the Titans.

Their Ram Slam T20 clash against the Highveld Lions was abandoned without a ball bowled and the sides received two points.

The Titans had their game against the Dolphins rained out after a late afternoon storm saturated the Willowmoore Park outfield in Benoni on Friday.

The two points for the Lions moves them to 10.

The Lions travel to Bloemfontein to face the Knights tomorrow, while the Titans host the Warriors in Benoni.

The Dolphins will host the Cape Cobras in Durban. — SuperSport.com with additional Khanyiso Tshwaku