The high-flying Cobras take on the Knights at Newlands in the Momentum One Day Cup’s midweek fixture.

The Cape franchise have recorded three convincing wins on the trot to get their campaign off to the perfect start, which included a bonus point win against the Knights in Kimberley. The visitors, on the other hand, are sitting second from bottom on the points table. They lost their first two encounters, before an unplayable pitch in Benoni gave them their only points of the competition thus far.

It’s the first game of the tournament at Newlands, a ground that generally attracts the best crowds anywhere in the country. With good weather expected and the home team in great form, a large crowd and jovial atmosphere can once again be expected on the grass banks.

A fourth consecutive victory for Justin Ontong’s charges will take them a minimum of eight points, two wins, clear of the chasing Lions and Dolphins. It’s still early days, but the indications are that Newlands will once again host the final in 2014.

Players to watch:

Justin Ontong smashed it to all parts on Sunday in Paarl, scoring 83 off just 38 balls. If the top order can once again lay a solid platform then Ontong is likely to thrill the Newlands crowd at the death. For the Knights, Reeza Hendricks almost pulled off an incredible chase on Friday night when he scored a record 181 against the Dolphins. He will need to replicate that performance for the Knights to stand a chance of upsetting the front-runners.

Prediction:

Based on the number of players with international experience in each squad and the previous result between the two sides in this competition, there can only be one conclusion. The Cobras should win at a canter and pick up their third bonus point of the campaign.

Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/Backpagepix