Boost for Cobras as Hendricks is banned

If high-flying Cape Cobras coach Ashwell Prince had been offered the choice of one Highveld Lions player to make unavailable for their top-of-the-table Four-Day Domestic Series match starting in Paarl today, there is a good chance he would have chosen leftarm paceman Beuran Hendricks (right), the joint leading wicket-taker in the competition thus far.

And his wishes have come true as, in a massive blow to the Lions’ hopes of closing the 31.88-point gap between the sides, Hendricks has been suspended for one match by the CSA disciplinary commissioner, Professor Rian Cloete, for throwing the ball at a batsman in a dangerous manner.

Replacing the Proteas bowler with seven T20 caps and 21 wickets at 17.33 this season, is going to be a difficult ask for the Lions, who also have Carmi le Roux and Sean Jamison out with injury.

“It’s such a great pity because Beuran has been getting better and better, he’s lifted the attack nicely and now we get this unexpected suspension. We’re going to have to dig deep. It’s unfortunate but we have to move on and find the best balance to compete very well against the Cobras, who are playing very good cricket,” Lions coach Enoch Nkwe said.

The Titans, who are at the other end of the standings and will be involved in a bottom-of-thetable clash with the Dolphins at Kingsmead, have also been struck a blow with key batsman Theunis de Bruyn, averaging 68.16 this season, out with a back injury.

Andrea Agathagelou is likely to come in for the Proteas Test batsman, and Titans captain Shaun von Berg said their draw against the Lions in Potchefstroom last week was a big improvement in terms of performance despite conceding 530 in the first innings.

“The pitch was difficult for bowlers, pretty flat with not much in it, and we made a good start to have them 12 for three and then Rassie van der Dussen nicked off on 11 but wasn’t given out, on his way to 175. We fought well with the bat and I was happy with the bowling performance. Slowly but surely we’re bowling well as a unit,” Von Berg said.