The Cape Cobras stamped their dominance against the Lions on the first day of their 4-Day Franchise Series encounter at the Wanderers.
It took the Cape Cobras just 33 overs to bowl the Highveld Lions out for just 104 runs in Johannesburg after the home team had won the toss and elected to bat first. The Cobras bowling attack was on the money from the get-go as the opening pair of Tladi Bokako (9-1-31-3) and Lizaad Williams (11-3-40-3) terrorised the Lions batting order before Jason Smith was unleashed to finish off the tail. Smith also picked up 3-17 runs in 9.1 overs.
Pieter Malan (eight off 28 balls, two fours) couldn’t repeat his first innings century from last week as he lost his wicket in the eighth over of the Cobras’ response. It was, instead, Janneman Malan who led the Cobras charge at the top this time, initially with a quickfire 68-run second-wicket partnership with Zubayr Hamza (31 runs off 54 balls, three fours and two sixes) taking the Cobras to within touching distance of the Lions’ score, and then an unbeaten 107-run partnership for the third wicket with David Bedingham to put the visiting side into the lead.
Malan (90 not out) and Bedingham (65 not out) will resume on Tuesday with the Cobras on 204 for the loss of just two wickets. They will be looking to heap more misery on the Lions by adding more runs to their already substantial 100-run lead.
Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images
