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Lions implode at the death to hand Cobras victory

cricket07 April 2019 16:21| © MWP
By:Terry Dennis
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Dane Paterson © Gallo Images
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Thanks to a record seventh-wicket partnership of 58 against the bizhub Highveld Lions between Vernon Philander and Aviwe Mgijima and some really good death bowling from Dane Patterson the WSB Cape Cobras were able to post a nerve-shattering five-run victory in their CSA T20 Challenge, played at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.

Full Scorecard

Batting first on a a slow, lifeless pitch the Cobras recorded 169 for eight off their 20 overs.

A third-wicket partnership of 74 between Ryan Rickelton and the Temba Bavuma enabled the Gauteng-based side to get within spitting distance, but that was as close as it got.

The home side failed to get the chase rolling with both Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen back in the dressing room within six overs.

However, Rickleton and Bavuma pulled it back with their partnership in just over nine overs.

IMPLOSION AT THE DEATH

George Linde achieved the breakthrough the Cape-based side so desperately needed. Rickelton came down the track and smashed the ball high in the air, but it was taken by Mgijima running forward at deep mid-wicket.

The opener's 67-ball 69 contained three boundaries and four high-powered sixes.

Rickleton's dismissal had the necessary effect, leaving the home side needing 26 off the last two overs.

Bavuma raised the hopes of the home fans with 17 runs coming off the 18th over.The loss of Wihahn Lubbe (28 off 16-balls, with two boundaries and two sixes) and Bavuma (46 off 35-balls, with two and two) in the penultimate over to Rory Kleinveldt, had the expectant crowd on their feet, with the Lions needing eight off the last over.

But it was not to be. Paterson failed to read the home side's script, bowling a magnificent final over which included two wickets and a run-out to take the jubilant visitors over the line. The over read: one, wicket (Dwaine Pretorius), one, wicket (Mulder run out), wicket (Bjorn Fortuin, clean-bowled), dot.

AMLA FAILED TO IMPRESS

Earlier, the Cobras, who had been asked to bat first, got off to the worse possible start, losing the wicket of Janneman Malan to the third ball of the first over.

The opener looking for an opportunity to get the scoreboard ticking, sashayed down the track to Fortuin looking to crash the ball over long-on, but Lubbe running forward took an easy catch.

Then disaster struck. Hashim Amla, with aspirations of getting his name on the team sheet for the World Cup, failed to impress.

No sooner had the classy batsman flicked a Wiaan Mulder delivery for a maximum over the mid-wicket-boundary, than he tried to run Mulder down to third-man off the next delivery, but played on.

David Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne, tried to restore parity and at one-time looked as if they had succeeded.

Then it all went pear-shaped as Bedingham (30) misjudged a Malusi Siboto short ball, and Hendricks took a great catch running back at mid-wicket.

DOLLY OF A CATCH

And when a partnership was desperately needed, Fortuin got his second scalp.

Simon Khomari (7) went to hammer a nitrate-loaded six over the mid-wicket fence, but sent it sky-high and was caught by Bavuma on the boundary.

The fifth wicket went soon after, when Verreynne (26) hooked a short ball from Mulder, and Nono Pongolo did not have to take a step in either direction to take a dolly of a catch.

Pongolo then claimed the wicket of Linde with his first delivery.

The scoreboard reading 104 for six after 14 overs.

Philander (31 off 17 balls ) and Mgijima (29 not out off 22 balls) waved the long handle to rescue the visitors and post a challenging total on a slowish Wanderers track.

Fortuin finished with two for 14 and Mulder took two for 28.


BIZHUB HIGHVELD LIONS: Reeza Hendricks, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma (capt), Wiaan Mulder, Dwaine Pretorius, Wihan Lubbe, Bjorn Fortuin, Nono Pongolo, Malusi Siboto, Beuran Hendricks

WSB CAPE COBRAS: Hashim Amla, Janneman Malan, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Simon Khomari, Aviwe Mgijima, George Linde, Vernon Philander, Rory Kleinveldt (capt), Dane Paterson, Tladi Bokako

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