Cobras regroup but battle still on
BLOEMFONTEIN’S Mangaung Oval is proving to be a graveyard for bowlers in the opening Sunfoil Series clash between the Knights and the Cape Cobras, with only six wickets falling over the last two days for the addition of 747 runs.
After resuming on 551/4, the Knights moved to 623 without any further loss with both Rudi Second (101 not out, 176 balls, 11x4) and Werner Coetsee (105 not out, 135 balls, 10x4, 2x6) moving on to three-figure scores on the third morning.
Once the pair reached their respective milestones, Knights captain Theunis de Bruyn immediately rang the declaration bell, with the home side 464 runs ahead on the first innings.
After mustering only 159 in their first innings, it was a matter of pure survival for the Cobras and the visitors were staring down the barrel at 58/3 in their second innings. Openers Andrew Puttick (eight) and Pieter Malan (35), along with Temba Bavuma, who could only manage a firstball duck, were the batsmen back in the changeroom.
It was therefore left to the Cobras’ most senior batsmen Hashim Amla and Justin Ontong to at least try to restore some pride for the beleaguered visitors. The pair began the resuscitation job with caution before finding their rhythm later on.
By stumps, both had moved to their respective centuries with Amla on 121 not out and Ontong undefeated on 124. The duo have already added 246 runs for the fourth wicket – the third partnership of the match in excess of 200 runs.
The Cobras still trail by 160 runs heading into the final day.
They have, however, managed to keep the Knights in the field for longer than the 41 overs their first innings lasted and will hope that Amla and Ontong can at least take their partnership into the second session if they are to rescue a contest they were firmly behind in almost from the first ball.
l It appears to be a question of when, rather than if, the Titans will win their opening four-day match at Centurion.
At stumps on day three, they had the visiting Dolphins on the rack at 27 for three, in pursuit of a near-impossible target of 430.
The Dolphins had started the third day on 232 for six, and the dogged Robbie Frylinck (50 from 57 balls) and Keshav Maharaj (36), added 74 for the eighth wicket, to at least narrow the deficit by the time the visitors were dismissed for 317.
Malusi Siboto did the most damage for the Titans, snaffling five for 51 in 16 overs. The Titans had a lead of 134 to work with, and they piled on the agony in the second dig. Proteas opener Dean Elgar had missed out in the first innings, but the southpaw pummelled a bruising 139 in the second dig, off just 164 balls. On the other end, young skipper Aiden Markram added gloss to his first-innings 112 with 87 off 89 balls. Markram almost completed a remarkable start to captaincy, but he was bowled by Maharaj, just a few blows short of a double helping of first-class tons.
The Titans were after quick runs, and they rattled along at very nearly a run a ball for over 50 overs. Tony de Zorzi kept the foot on the gas when he joined Elgar, rushing to 57 off just 56 balls. Markram halted the massacre at 295 for four.
That set the Dolphins 430 to win, a run-mountain to scale after chasing leather in the afternoon. Siboto struck with the new nut, castling SJ Erwee, who had come into the contest in good nick.
The Titans were not done, either, as Morne Morkel trapped Senuran Muthusamy (eight) leg-before, and then fired night-watchman Mthokozisi Shezi in the same over, to reduce the Dolphins to 27 for three. The Titans have signalled their season’s intentions very clearly.
Cape Cobras 159 and 304/3 (H Amla 121*, J Ontong 124*; Eddie Leie 2/75). Knights: 623/4 decl (T de Bruyn 195, K Petersen 141, R Second 101*, W Coetzee 105*)
Warriors 503/8 decl and 94/3 (G Cloete 39). Lions 348 (W Mulder 79. N van den Bergh 58, R Hendricks 58; S Magala 4/80, A Birch 3/96)