Cape Cobras dominate opening day

Ken Borland

The Cape Cobras hit hard with their bowlers and opener Janneman Malan then struck a strokefilled 90 not out as the visitors totally dominated the opening day of their Four-Day Franchise Series match against the Highveld Lions at the Wanderers yesterday.

The Lions had elected to bat first and they were bundled out for just 104 as Lizaad Williams (3-40), Tladi Bokako (3-31) and Jason Smith (3-17) shared nine of the wickets to fall.

It was a display marked by particularly poor shot-selection by the Lions batsmen, with 67 of their runs coming in one partnership between Dominic Hendricks (30) and Reeza Hendricks (41).

Williams had both Hendricks caught behind the wicket and he then bowled Nicky van den Bergh, who made a century last week, for a duck, and there was a run out as well as the Lions crashed from 71 for two to 84 for eight.

Lions opening bowlers Migael Pretorius and Beuran Hendricks took a wicket apiece, but Malan, who had also taken two blinding catches in the slips, and David Bedingham (65*) struck back with an unbeaten stand of 107, as the Cobras closed on 204 for two, already leading by 100 runs.

The Kimberley pitch is still proving tricky for batsmen, with the bowlers a constant threat as 12 wickets fell on the opening day of the match between the Knights and the Dolphins.

The Dolphins elected to bat first and that they made it as far as 268 all out is thanks to a third-wicket stand of 130 between opener Sarel Erwee (68) and Senuran Muthusamy (62).

Test bowler Duane Olivier showed once again that he is the spearhead of the Knights attack as he took four for 50 in 19.4 overs, while Ryan McLaren (18-9-31-2) is an admirable foil.

Off-spinner Tshepo Ntuli dismissed both Erwee and Muthusamy as he finished with two for 65.

The match is delicately poised though as the Knights were reduced to 24 for two by stumps, Eathan Bosch and Kerwin Mungroo each taking a wicket.