Fortuin grabs three on final day to seal Cobras’ defeat

DEBUTANT Bjorn Fortuin took three of the final four wickets to fall on day four as the Highveld Lions crushed the Cape Cobras by an innings and 78 runs on the final morning of the Sunfoil Series clash in Potchefstroom yesterday.

The slow left-armer ended with 3/105 – and 6/192 in the match – as the visitors were bowled out for 244 on day four.

The Cobras were already in a huge hole heading into the last day – they started out on 186/6.

Fortuin dismissed overnight pair Wayne Parnell (40) and Dane Piedt ( 22) within seven overs, before adding Beuran Hendricks (12) to his set of victims.

The competition’s top wickettaker, Hardus Viljoen, then cleaned up last man Rory Kleinveldt (26) to finish as the pick of the bowlers with 4/42.

The fast bowler, who made his Proteas debut earlier this summer, now has 36 wickets to his name this season in just five matches.

Victory kept the defending champion Lions in second place, while the Cobras stayed second bottom.

Andile Phehlukwayo ended with career-best figures as the Dolphins completed a comfortable innings and 54 run victory over the Warriors early on day four of their clash in East London yesterday.

The young all-rounder claimed 4/39, beating his previous first-class best of 3/69, to ensure the hosts were bowled out for just 187 in their follow-on innings.

Jerry Nqolo top-scored for the Warriors with 64 (144 balls, 9 fours), before he was eventually the second last man to fall when he was cleaned up by the spin of Keshav Maharaj (2/49).

Craig Alexander (1/47) accounted for Ayabulela Gqamane (8), while Phehlukwayo dismissed Thandolwethu Mnyaka (16).

Only 21 overs were bowled on the final morning, with the Warriors adding exactly 50 to their overnight score.

Despite not being amongst the wickets on the last day, Daryn Dupavillon ended with 2/32 in the second innings and was named man of the match for his overall analysis of 7/81.

The result handed the Warriors a fifth defeat in six games this season and left them firmly rooted to the foot of the table, while the Dolphins stayed fourth, but now within seven points of the third-placed Knights. – ANA