Lions triumph on terrible pitch

FOUR-DAY SERIES: SPINNER SIBOTO STARS IN 11-RUN WIN

The Highveld Lions seem to have escaped official censure for the awful Potchefstroom pitch that saw them start their defence of their Four-Day Domestic Series title with a win just seven deliveries into the third day against last season’s runners-up, the Cape Cobras.

With 39 wickets falling on the first two days on a pitch that seemed under-prepared, the Cobras needed 15 runs to win with only one wicket left yesterday. Surprisingly, Cricket South Africa had not sent a pitch inspector by the time it was all over.

Aviwe Mgijima and Tladi Bokako took three singles off left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin’s opening over, but then Malusi Siboto, the chief destroyer of the Cobras second innings, bowled Mgijima for 25 with his first ball.

Siboto finished with outstanding figures of 5/15 in 12.1 overs as the Lions won a thriller by 11 runs.

In Kimberley, the Warriors are in big trouble in anyone’s language as they go into the final day of their match against the Knights on 64/5, chasing 436 for victory.

Pacemen Gerald Coetzee and Mbulelo Budaza took two wickets apiece, while the visitors will also have to deal with the cunning of leg-spinner Shaun von Berg, who bowled their captain Jon-Jon Smuts for just 8, on the final day.

Von Berg had earlier closed out the Knights’ second innings with a powerful 61 not out, and they declared on 332/6. A slick partnership of 176 for the third wicket between Keegan Petersen (84) and skipper Pite van Biljon (95) was the foundation of the Knights’ dominance on the third day.

Highly-rated Warriors paceman Lutho Sipamla showed his talent by claiming three of the wickets to fall.

At Centurion, the Titans produced a much better bowling display, seamer Marcello Piedt trapping Cody Chetty lbw for 16 with his first ball of the day.

Prenelan Subrayen then edged the much-improved Tshepo Moreki to slip, the nightwatchman’s innings ending on 22 as the Dolphins slipped to 214/5, still 227 runs behind.

The Dolphins eventually made it to 385 all out, a deficit of just 56.

Piedt, in his first franchise four-day game, was the best of the bowlers with 4/61 in 25.2 overs.

The Titans made a fluent start to their second innings with Andrea Agathangelou (18) and Tony de Zorzi (27) putting on 45, but both openers were dismissed in the space of four deliveries.

The home side now lead by 173 runs, but bad weather is forecast for today.