Cobras edge day one against Dolphins
by Brendon Atwell 17 January 2013, 18:19
The Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras ended day one of their Sunfoil Series match against the Sunfoil Dolphins on 130 for four, in response to the visitors' first innings total of 174 all out, at Sahara Park Newlands in Cape Town on Thursday.
Andrew Puttick (13) and Alistair Gray could manage only 21 before Puttick was well caught by Daryn Smit behind the stumps, taking a diving catch low to his left.
Gray and Stiaan van Zyl added 51 for the second wicket before Gray was caught off the bowling of Kyle Abbott for 36, which included five boundaries.
Van Zyl was then joined by his captain, Justin Ontong, and the pair added 40 runs for the third wicket before a double strike reduced the home side to 112 for four.
Van Zyl drove hard at a delivery from Keshav Maharaj, only to be snapped up by Divan van Wyk at short mid-wicket, for 29.
Ontong then pushed hard at the first delivery of the next over from Abbott and offered a simple catch behind. Ontong struck four boundaries in his knock of 28.
Abbott ended the day with 2-29 while Maharaj (1-18) and Calvin Savage (1-39) offered good support. Dane Vilas, on 14 not out and Qaasim Adams, on four, will resume for the hosts on day two.
The Cobras had earlier won the toss under cloudy skies and sent the visitors in to bat first. The Dolphins made a slow but solid start to their innings before losing Imraan Khan (15), Jonathan Vandiar (4), Vaughn van Jaarsveld (0) and Khaye Zondo (5) all before lunch, for 79 runs.
Beuran Hendricks then took three quick wickets after lunch to reduce the Dolphins to 96 for seven. Cody Chetty (9), Daryn Smit (6) and Kyle Abbott (0) all fell to a brilliant spell from the fast left-arm seamer.
Divan van Wyk and Calvin Savage added 52 runs for the 8th wicket before Savage (15) was bowled by the legbreak bowling of Alistair Gray.
Van Wyk top scored for the Dolphins with a well played 92, which lasted 238 minutes and contained 13 boundaries.
Hendricks finished with 5-47 with Justin Kemp claiming 2-33. Gray, Johann Louw and Lizaad Williams all finished with one wicket apiece.
NASHUA MOBILE CAPE COBRAS: Andrew Puttick, Alistair Gray, Stiaan van Zyl, Justin Ontong (capt), Qaasim Adams, Dane Vilas (w/k), Justin Kemp, Johann Louw, Dane Piedt, Beuran Hendricks, Lizaad Williams.
SUNFOIL DOLHINS: Divan van Wyk, Imraan Khan, Jonathan Vandiar, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Cody Chetty, Khayelihle Zondo, Daryn Smit (capt, w/k), Kyle Abbott, Calvin Savage, Keshav Maharaj, Mthokozisi Shezi.
