Cobras falter badly as Warriors bowlers strike back at St George’s

THE Warriors came storming back into contention as they picked up seven wickets in the 44 overs that were possible on a rain- affected second day of their four-day clash against the Cape Cobras at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth.

Just 3.3 overs were played at the start of the day before the rain arrived to cause a significant delay, but when the game resumed the Warriors struck swiftly and made it their day as they left the Cobras 137/7 in response to the 203 posted by the home side on day one.

Omphile Ramela provided the only prolonged resistance for the Cobras, but even that was broken when Basheeru-Deen Walters had him caught at second slip for 45 off what proved to be the final ball of the day.

The Warriors – and, in particular, Andrew Birch – clearly switched on quicker after the rain delay, as the seamer struck twice with his first five balls.

Ramela had been dropped in the slips prior to the rain arriving, but both Richard Levi and Keegan Petersen were successfully pouched as Birch (2/36) found the edge.

Yaseen Vallie was then run out to leave the Cobras on 35/3, and after a brief recovery, Sisanda Magala trapped Dane Vilas lbw while Simon Harmer accounted for Sybrand Engelbrecht (26).

The seamers continued to find something in the pitch, which helped Walters (2/41) to stymy the next attempted recovery as he bowled Justin Kemp through the gate and then dismissed Ramela in his next over. Aviwe Mgijima was unbeaten on two as stumps was called with the Cobras still trailing by 66 runs.

Elsewhere, Cody Chetty hit an unbeaten century to guide the Dolphins to a big total, before their inexperienced bowling attack struck four times to leave the Knights in trouble after day two of their match in Kimberley.

Chetty scored 101 not out and was well supported by the lower order as the Dolphins racked up 452 all out to put significant scoreboard pressure on the home side.

Equally impressive, though, was the ability of an attack with an average age of less than 23 to reduce the Knights to 128/4 in reply, leaving the hosts trailing by 324 runs and in need of a big knock on day three.

The Dolphins’ dominance came in spite of Patrick Botha’s performance, which saw the offspinner claim career-best figures of 7 for 89 in 28.5 overs.

Chetty began the day unbeaten on 11, and he extended his partnership with Khaya Zondo (51) to 97 before the latter man was dismissed by Botha, who took five of the six Knights wickets that fell on the day.

The problem for the Knights was that all but one of the Dolphins bottom five reached double figures, drawing the innings out and helping Chetty to three figures. Chetty achieved the landmark in 203 deliveries (9x4s, 1x6), before Botha snaffled the last two wickets in the space of six deliveries.

Bolstered by their big total but also the absence of several key players in a remodelled Knights top four, the Dolphins attack of Daryn Dupavillon, Graham Hume, Matthew Pillans and Keshav Maharaj successfully chipped away at the home side.

Although Gerhardt Abrahams and Lefa Mosena put on 61 for the first wicket, Hume had the former caught behind for 34 and Pillans dismissed Mosena for 46.

Dupavillon then struck twice in two balls to peg the Knights back further.

In Benoni, the Lions lost four wickets for two runs at one stage, but still managed to total an impressive 485/7 declared in their clash against the Titans.

After Stephen Cook ( 122) and Neil McKenzie (47) had taken the Lions total to 311/2, they collapsed to 313/6.

However, any joy the Titans may have felt was quickly blunted by Dale Deeb (89 not out) and Dwaine Pretorius (67) as they kept the home side in the field for a further 40 overs while adding 137 for the seventh wicket.