Cobras need wily Parnell to help strike back in T20

THE Cape Cobras will be hoping the return of Proteas all-rounder Wayne Parnell will add some strike power to their limp bowling attack.

Despite boasting international players such as Vernon Philander, Rory Kleinveldt, Dane Paterson and all-rounder JP Duminy, the Cobras bowlers suffered at the hands of Sarel Erwee (103) and Khaya Zondo (67) on Sunday in the T20 Challenge at SuperSport Park.

The pair’s unbroken 136-run partnership for the third wicket propelled the Dolphins to a national T20 record of 231/2.

Erwee was particularly destructive, with his innings lasting just 58 balls, including 10 boundaries and five sixes at an impressive strikerate of 177.58

Parnell has been unavailable this season due to a groin injury, but his rehabilitation gathered steam in the lead-up to the match against the Dolphins. Coach Ashwell Prince and the selection committee, though, resisted the temptation to unleash Parnell while he was not 100%.

“Wayne bowled at 80 percent intensity at three-quarters of his runup last week and the idea is that he will be able to operate at 100 percent starting with training on Tuesday,” Cobras physiotherapist Shane Jabaar said.

Parnell’s return will add some much-needed pace and variation to Wayne Parnell of the Cobras. the Cobras attack. There seemed to be much of the “sameness” to the Cobras bowling unit on Sunday, with each seamer sending down deliveries rightarm over the wicket in the region of 130-135km/h.

The Cobras bowling unit also missed their lengths completely, and on such good surfaces that the coastal side are going to encounter on the Highveld in there next couple of matches, it is virtual suicide.

With his left-arm swinging deliveries, which touch 140km/h on occasion, Parnell is an entirely different factor to negotiate. The Proteas seamer is also a vastly experienced T20 campaigner, having played in the IPL previously and the Caribbean Premier League earlier this year, which has helped him claim 166 T20 wickets.

The Cobras will, though, have to wait a couple more days before Tshepo Moreki returns from injury. Jabaar said Moreki, who injured his finger during a fielding session last Friday, had a scan which revealed no fracture, but ligament damage.

Moreki was rested for Sunday’s opening match of the T20 Challenge, but will face a tough task to return to the team after his replacement, Mthiwekhaya Nabe, was comfortably the best of the Cobras bowlers with figures of with 1/38 in four overs

Moreki will move full steam ahead with his training over the next few days as the Cobras prepare for their secon match against the Highveld Lions at the Wanderers on Friday.