They needed all the time in the middle that they could get, but the Cape Cobras’ three Proteas – Stiaan van Zyl, Hashim Amla and JP Duminy – looked like they had a plane to catch against the Knights on Saturday.
After Duminy got a modest 35 to be the top-scorer in the Cobras’ first innings, one would’ve thought they would apply themselves properly second time around in the Sunfoil Series clash at Newlands.
This was especially so after the Knights batsmen cashed in on a flat Newlands track to post 491/9 declared in 154 overs, with captain Werner Coetsee scoring the only century of the match, while five other batsmen got beyond 50.
That was the strong foundation that saw the Knights dominate with the ball on Saturday to thrash the Cobras by an innings and 102 runs.
Coach Paul Adams’s team couldn’t get into a winning position as the Knights had a 345-run lead on the first innings at lunch on day three.
That would’ve given Van Zyl, Amla and Duminy even more reason to play themselves in and get some valuable batting practice ahead of next Saturday’s Boxing Day Test against England in Durban.
But the Cobras, and particularly the Proteas Test batsmen, adopted strange tactics when they came out to bat after collapsing to 146 all out in the first innings.
Stand-in captain Andrew Puttick (3) set the tone as he attempted a hook shot in the second over off the speedy Duanne Olivier, and the top-edge was taken by wicket-keeper Rudi Second.
Amla was out for 10 in the first innings, and as if the cricketing gods were in tune with the needs of the Proteas, Amla survived on nought on Saturday after being dismissed by Olivier.
A rising delivery outside off caught Amla’s glove and he was caught behind, but Olivier had overstepped the mark and the umpire called a no-ball.
That was the catalyst for Amla to go on the attack. The 32-year-old hit a few classy straight drives and through the covers, but played as if it was a limited-overs game.
After reaching 23 off just 20 balls, Amla went for yet another boundary with a booming drive at an Olivier ball off the back foot. But he got a thick edge to Michael Erlank at third slip after hitting five fours.
Van Zyl (15 in the first innings) followed his more experienced partner’s lead as one pull shot just missed his stumps and beat the wicket-keeper to go for a boundary. He played one lovely clip off his legs, but pushed hard at a wide Olivier delivery and was caught by Shadley van Schalkwyk in the gully for 21.
Duminy also came out with positive intent, with his first two scoring shots being sixes. The left-hander played some wonderful strokes, with his back-foot cover drive off left-arm seamer Mbulelo Budaza the shot of the day as he stood tall on his toes.
But his well-known battles with facing right-arm off-spinners was evident again as Coetsee trapped Duminy lbw for 27 (40 balls, 3x4, 2x6) to place the Cobras on a precarious position at 98/4 in 20.5 overs.
Of the other Proteas batsmen who played for their franchises, only the Lions’ Temba Bavuma got some runs, reaching 57 in the first innings against the Warriors. He was out for two in the second knock, while the Titans’ Dean Elgar got nought and 12 against the Dolphins.
AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis – the latter also struggled in India – took a break this weekend, but Proteas coach Russell Domingo will be concerned that his likely batting line-up for the Kingsmead Test against England are out of touch.
While it was the Indian spin that bedazzled the South Africans, the English boast a formidable pace attack of Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and possibly Steven Finn who will thrive in the bouncy conditions.
Young Cobras wicket-keeper Keegan Petersen, though, showed his more famous teammates how it should be done as he took his time on a good Newlands pitch.
The 22-year-old Bolander played a number of commanding straight drives off the Knights pacemen and became the first Cobras player in the match to reach a half-century. But just when he looked set for a big score, he popped a Van Schalkwyk delivery to Diego Rosier at cover to be out for 54 (66 balls, 10x4).
Lesiba Ngoepe (11) and Dane Piedt (12) didn’t offer much resistance, while a late flurry from Mthokozisi Shezi (50 not out, 112 balls, 9x4) and Beuran Hendricks (27) almost took the match into a fourth day.
But part-time spinner Erlank (3/32) wrapped up the tail, dismissing Lizaad Williams lbw with the last ball of the day.
@IndyCapeSport