Warriors fight back in Paarl
by Pete le Grange 11 October 2012, 18:15
The Chevrolet Warriors continued to fight back in the final session of the opening day of their Sunfoil Series match against the Nahua Mobile Cape Cobras in Paarl.
They dismissed the home team half an hour before the close, but did lose a wicket when they came out to bat. When stumps were drawn, the deficit was 251 with nine wickets in hand.
Resuming on 27 after tea, much depended on Yaseen Vallie to take the Cobras to a competitive first innings score, but he failed to add to his tally before pushing a catch back to Simon Harmer. Dane Vilas was still in, however, and found a partner in Vernon Philander as the pair added 43 for the seventh wicket. With a handful of overs before the second new ball was available, Davey Jacobs called on his part-time spinners in Jon-Jon Smuts and Colin Ingram.
This was an inspired move. Philander could not resist going for the big shots, and was bowled by Smuts for 21. The same fate befell Vilas in sight of his fifty.
His 45 came off 80 balls (three fours). Smuts picked up a third in dismissing Johann Louw, but Rory Kleinveldt celebrated his call-up to the test squad with a swashbuckling innings of 36 off 37 balls, including three sixes. In fact, he had already hit Ingram over the ropes twice in the over before being caught by Parnell to end the innings.
Jon-Jon Smuts ended with 3-22 in his seven overs, although the pick of the bowling came from Adrian Birch and Parnell, who each took 2-30.
Justin Ontong soon had off-spinner Dane Piedt in the attack, and his decision was rewarded with the early wicket of Michael Price, trapped in front.
Earlier in the day, Alistair Gray was the only Cobras batsman to pass fifty with an innings of 67. The Cobras had made a promising start, but lost their way with four wickets tumbling in the second session.
Bonus points to date: Cape Cobras 3.24, Warriors 4.
NASHUA MOBILE CAPE COBRAS: Justin Onting (capt), Andrew Puttick, Alistair Gray, Stiaan van Zyl, Yaseen Vallie, Justin Kemp, Dane Vilas (wk), Vernon Philander, Rory Kleinveldt, Johann Louw, Dane Piedt.
CHEVROLET WARRIORS: Davy Jacobs (capt), Michael Price, Jon-Jon Smuts, Ashwell Prince, Colin Ingram, Kelly Smuts, Athenkozi Dyili (wk), Wayne Parnell, Simon Harmer, Adrian Birch, Basheeru-Deen Walters.
