Cape Town - While it was a rather academic One-Day Cup affair, Cape Cobras coach Paul Adams would’ve been disappointed with his team’s batting display as they crashed to a 113-run loss to the Knights in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.
The result didn’t affect the business end of the competition, as the Cobras secured a Newlands final with an unassailable lead at the top of the log before the last round-robin matches this week.
In addition, the qualifying teams for the playoff have already been decided as well, with the Highveld Lions taking on the Warriors at the Wanderers next week Wednesday, February 24, with the winners travelling to Cape Town to face the Cobras on Sunday, February 28.
But even though some of the mainstays of the Cobras batting line-up such as captain Justin Ontong (rested), opener Andrew Puttick (suspension) and Dane Vilas (wicket-keeper) didn’t feature in Bloemfontein, Adams provided an opportunity to Keegan Petersen, Wayne Parnell as an opener, debutant right-hander Zubayr Hamza and all-rounder Jason Smith.
However, none of them did justice to their talents in trying to chase down an imposing 280-run target to win after the Knights finished on 279/5 in their 50 overs.
Knights coach Allan Donald would’ve been delighted to witness his opening batsman and wicket-keeper Rudi Second end the competition by carrying his bat for 111 not out off 143 balls.
Man-of-the-Match Second hit just four boundaries in three-and-a-half hours at the crease for his fifth List A career century and third of the season.
But the impetus came from Second’s partner Reeza Hendricks, who stroked his way to an impressive 82 off just 76 balls (10x4, 2x6) after captain Werner Coetsee won the toss and chose to bat first.
Second kept things going in the middle overs and completed the innings with a flourish alongside his skipper Coetsee, as the Knights added 47 runs in the last five overs of the innings.
The Cobras, though, deliberately didn’t allow Beuran Hendricks (1/36 in seven overs), Tshepo Moreki (3/45 in eight) and Parnell (0/43 in seven) to complete their full 10-over spells in order to give others a chance before the final.
The Cape batsmen weren’t able to build the same platform as the Knights as Parnell got out for four to Shadley van Schalkwyk.
Stand-in captain Omphile Ramela and Petersen put on 34 for the second wicket, but when Ramela was undone by a sharp in-swinger from Mbulelo Budaza to be clean-bowled for 24, it sparked a mini-collapse as Petersen (15) and Hamza (3) fell within quick succession.
The Cobras were never going to get close from that position, despite the presence of the elegant left-hander Stiaan van Zyl at the other end. The discarded Proteas Test opener struggled to find his timing early on - he was dropped on four by Patrick Botha at short cover off Budaza when the ball stopped on the sluggish pitch - but once he middled a few, he played some glorious drives and pulls to end on 70 not out off 91 balls (3x4, 1x6).
All-rounder Aviwe Mgijima played some lusty blows for 26 off 38 balls (2x4, 1x6), but the One-Day Cup’s leading wicket-taker this season, Malusi Siboto (4/32 in 8.5 overs), returned in his second spell to get rid of Mgijima, Jason Smith (2) and Dane Piedt (1) in identical fashion as all three were caught behind by Second.
Now the Cobras will enjoy 11 days off ahead of next Sunday’s final. But coach Adams will have a huge selection headache to resolve, especially if the Proteas national players are available for their respective franchises.
While the Lions and Warriors fight it out next Wednesday for a spot in the final, Adams will have to work out how he is going to accommodate Hashim Amla, JP Duminy and Dale Steyn, as the Proteas’ last T20 against England is this Sunday, before they face Australia on March 4.
There are also some stalwarts who will return to Cape Town this week from the Masters Champions League in Dubai - which ended at the weekend - such as Richard Levi, Robin Peterson and Rory Kleinveldt.
With Puttick also back from suspension, Adams has a lot of thinking to do over the next week or so.
@IndyCapeSport
Independent Media