Rossouw, Philander shine on day two
by Thahir Asmal 03 February 2012, 12:23
Malusi Siboto claimed two wickets in the final session as the Chevrolet Knights ended day two of their SuperSport Series against the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras on top at Sahara Park Newlands in Cape Town on Friday.
By stumps, the home side had reached 118 for three in reply to the visitors’ 345 all out, but the day will be better remembered for Vernon Philander’s career-best seven for 61 and an unbeaten century by Rilee Rossouw.
Proteas fast bowler Philander claimed three of the five Knights wickets that fell to surpass his previous best seven for 64, although he could not get the one wicket that counted as Rossouw recorded 144 not out from 367 balls.
The visitors resumed at the start on 248 for five, but lost Ryan McLaren (four) and Aubrey Swanepoel (one) with just 14 runs added.
McLaren fell in the seventh over of the morning when he sent a low edge to Andrew Puttick at first slip to complete Philander’s five-for.
Four overs later Swanepoel was trapped leg before wicket by South Africa’s bowling star of the summer with the Knights in big problems on 260 for seven.
But Rossouw, unbeaten on 88 overnight, went to his 11th first-class century from 269 balls, before he took his team past 300 in the 118th over.
Along with Johan van der Wath, they put on a vital 68 for the eighth wicket with lunch coming in between when the Knights were on 322 for seven.
Part-timer Stiaan van Zyl finally broke the stand after the break when Van der Wath skied a miscued drive to Siya Simetu at mid-off for 32.
Quinton Friend was bowled for a duck by Philander, while Johann Louw trapped Siboto leg before wicket for one.
That left Rossouw stranded after a high-quality innings that included
15 fours and one six, with the Knights taking 140.5 overs at the crease.
The Cobras then began their reply, but were dreadfully slow as they reached tea on 18 without loss in 12 overs, Puttick unbeaten on 11 and Van Zyl on four.
After the break, Siboto removed Van Zyl (nine) immediately with the opener edging an away swinger to wicketkeeper Morne van Wyk, who took an excellent one-handed catch in front of first slip.
Puttick followed for 24 with the score on 49 when he pushed forward to the same bowler and was also grabbed by the keeper.
Justin Ontong managed 25 before he too edged behind to Van Wyk with Van der Wath the bowler this time and the score 74 for three.
But an unbroken 44-run partnership between Proteas pair Mark Boucher
(19) and JP Duminy (26) helped take the Cobras past 100 in 40th over as they then reached stumps with a deficit of 227.
Report Day 1
TEAMS:
Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras – Andrew Puttick, Stiaan van Zyl, Justin Ontong, JP Duminy, Mark Boucher, Justin Kemp (capt), Dane Vilas (wk), Vernon Philander, Johann Louw, Johannes Bothma, Siya Simetu.
Chevrolet Knights – Reeza Hendricks, Michael Erlank, Rilee Rossouw, Boeta Dippenaar, Morne van Wyk (capt, wk) , Werner Coetsee, Ryan McLaren, Aubrey Swanepoel, Johan van der Wath, Quinton Friend, Malusi Siboto.