De Bruyn sends Cobras tumbling at Newlands

ZANDER DE BRUYNclaimed 5-39 as the Highveld Lions ended day one of their Sunfoil Series match against the Cape Cobras on 78 for one at Newlands yesterday, in reply to the home side’s first innings score of 224 all out.

Stephen Cook, on 34 not out, and Temba Bavuma, on 17 not out, will resume the visitors’ first innings on day two, after losing the wicket of Quinton de Kock with the score on 43.

Charl Langeveldt made the key breakthrough for the home side when he bowled De Kock for 26, scored off 32 balls with four boundaries.

The Lions still trail the home side by 146 runs with nine first innings wickets in hand, after Stephen Cook had won the toss and asked the Cobras to bat first on an overcast morning.

The home side were bowled out shortly after tea with Stiaan van Zyl (44), Richard Levi (43) and Dane Vilas (43) all getting starts but being unable to kick on.

Andrew Puttick (31) and Alistair Gray (15) had made a fast start, after the start of play had been delayed by 20 minutes due to rain and a damp outfield.

Puttick and Gray raced to 30 without loss in just six overs, but then the introduction of De Bruyn swung the pendulum decisively the way of the visitors.

De Bruyn first claimed the wicket of Gray, having him caught behind with the total on 43, giving him his 250th first-class wicket. Puttick then became De Bruyn’s second victim when he played a ball on to his stumps. The Cobras went to lunch at 75/2. But Justin Ontong (4) lost his wicket 25 minutes after lunch when he edged De Bruyn to De Kock behind the stumps in the 27th over.

Levi then joined Van Zyl at the crease and the pair added 27 runs for the fourth wicket before Van Zyl played down the wrong line to De Bruyn, and was bowled.

Qaasim Adams (16) spent 29 minutes at the crease, while putting on 34 with Levi at 6.37 runs per over.

But Adams was then run out when Ethan O’Reilly threw down his stumps with an under-arm throw from midwicket to leave the Cobras stuttering on 146/5.

Cliffie Deacon then picked up the first of his two wickets when he had Levi playing at a ball outside the offstump and feathering one through to De Kock. Levi’s 43 came off just 42 balls with six boundaries and a six.

The home side lost Johann Louw (0) and Charl Langeveldt (6) before tea was taken at 204 for eight.

De Bruyn then duly claimed his fifth wicket when he dismissed Vilas by bowling him, before Imran Tahir finished off the Cobras by claiming his second wicket, that of Lizaad Williams.

De Bruyn received good support from Tahir, who ended with 2-14, and Deacon, with 2-54.

Elsewhere yesterday, half centuries from Henry Davids and Pieter Malan enabled the Titans to reach stumps on 321 for seven in their Sunfoil Series match against the Knights in Benoni.

When the umpires called time, rookie Graeme van Buuren was unbeaten on 47 and CJ de Villiers on 11.

Captain Davids fell eight short of a century as he struck 92, while opener Malan hit 65 for the only side without a win in the competition.

Dillon du Preez was the most successful visiting bowler, finishing with 3-37. – Sapa