The Cape Cobras’ main problem in four-day cricket last year was the lack of “big runs” from their top-order, and the same issue reared its ugly head again on the first day of the new season against the Highveld Lions.
Cobras coach Paul Adams told Independent Media on Tuesday that the squad had discussed and understood that they needed to occupy the crease for longer periods if they wanted to win the Sunfoil Series again.
“We understand that our first-innings batting is important in setting up games, so we want to bat time and not really rush and look to score all the runs before lunch. We’ll look to bat time and understand where the pressure is lying within the game, and understanding the game structure that we need at that particular time,” Adams said.
But by lunch on Wednesday at the Wanderers, the Cobras had endured a horror show and were 80/8, having been decimated by Lions opening bowler Sean Jamison – whose first spell read 3/23 in seven overs – and Nono Pongolo (2/17).
The rot started early in the innings as veteran left-hander Andrew Puttick (4) was caught down the legside by Lions wicket-keeper Mangaliso Mosehle off Jamison in the fourth over.
Captain Omphile Ramela – batting in his new position as an opener – tried to consolidate with young No 3 Zubayr Hamza, and they put on 31 for the second wicket before Ramela perished for just 10 as he steered Jamison to Temba Bavuma at slip.
Then it became a procession for the Cape side as they lost their next six wickets for just 37 runs. Proteas Test left-hander Stiaan van Zyl (1) also edged Jamison behind, and national wicket-keeper Dane Vilas – who was one of the mainstays of the Cobras batting unit last season – fell for a single as he held out to Bjorn Fortuin off Pongolo.
Hamza struck five fours in a 31-ball 29 to be the top scorer for the Cobras, but only Jason Smith (15) and Dane Piedt (22) joined Ramela and Hamza in double figures. The lower-order didn’t provide much resistance either as they were bowled out for 102 in 35 overs, with SA Under-19 captain Wiaan Mulder also grabbing three wickets.
The Lions started off reasonably enough to get to 62/3 in 25 overs, but new all-rounder Smith was the stand-out bowler for the visitors and struck some vital blows late in the day.
He took the last four wickets to fall (4/24 in seven overs) – Mulder (0) and Mosehle in consecutive balls to be on a hat trick, but that was prevented from happening – as well as Fortuin (4) and Hardus Viljoen (0) as the Lions ended the day on 141/8 for a lead of 39.
Only Proteas star Bavuma acquitted himself well to remain unbeaten on 63 off 105 balls (9x4, 1x6).
Adams said on Tuesday that he wanted his team to “show a lot more character in close games”, and after the batting problems, at least the bowlers came through to save face.
Now it’s up to the men with the willow to grind out some runs in the second innings to give the likes of Vernon Philander and Piedt something to bowl to.
Philander trapped fellow Protea Stephen Cook lbw for five, while Tshepo Moreki finished the day on 2/46, with Dane Paterson the other wicket-taker (1/30).
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Independent Media