MiWay T20 Challenge
Eagles demolish Cobras
2009-01-29 07:46
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Kimberley - The Cape Cobras' scorecard was a string of single-digit numbers as they
were bundled out for just 88 by the Eagles to lose their
Standard Bank Pro20 match by 88 runs in Kimberley on Wednesday.
Chasing a challenging Eagles' total of 176 for three, set up by a top-class
opening stand of 110 off 76 balls between Adrian McLaren and Morne van Wyk, the
Cobras produced one of their most phoney batting performances yet as only Stiaan
van Zyl (22) and Andrew Puttick (23) were able to reach double figures.
McLaren's long wait for a Pro20 chance finally bore fruit as he inspired the
Eagles innings by belting a marvellous 61 off 42 balls.
McLaren is now the Eagles' opening batsman in the aftermath of Loots Bosman's
catastrophic knee injury and he took to the role with unfazed flamboyance,
pouncing on anything too straight or in his arc as he peppered the leg-side with
four fours and two impressive sixes.
McLaren eventually fell in the 13th over as he flicked left-arm spinner
Claude Henderson off his legs but straight to Van Zyl at deep backward
square-leg.
Young Dean Elgar was the incoming batsman and he ensured the Eagles
maintained their momentum.
Van Wyk marched on to his second successive half-century and had reached 59
off 43 balls, his strong back-foot play bringing him eight fours and a six, when
he ignored Elgar's calls for a second run and was run out by Henry Davids from
long-off.
Just ten runs came off the next two overs, bowled by Roger Telemachus and
Charl Langeveldt, who had Dillon du Preez (five) caught at deep cover, but Elgar
ensured a strong finish for the Eagles as he hit Telemachus for a six and a four
in the final over.
Elgar also hit rookie off-spinner Sybrand Engelbrecht for a six and a four
off successive balls in the 16th over and posted 46 not out off just 27 balls.
Langeveldt (4-0-29-1) and Henderson (3-0-21-1), so often top of the bowling
logs for the Cobras, were once again the pick of the bowlers for the
Capetonians.
Engelbrecht, the SA under-19 fielding star, bowled tidily in the middle
overs, while Telemachus was the most expensive bowler, conceding 48 runs in his
four overs.
But the Cobras then made a total hash of their innings.
Derek Brand, playing just his second provincial match in eight years, was
dismissed by CJ de Villiers for eight and the Cobras then suffered a mortal blow
just an over later when key batsman Davids showed awful judgment to go for a
second run to Du Preez at third man and was run out for five.
The Eagles were also far more clinical in the field than the Cobras, with
Shadley van Schalkwyk pulling off a fantastic one-handed, leaping catch at deep
mid-off to dismiss Richard Levi (one) off De Villiers.
Van Zyl and Justin Ontong (four) were both deceived by Van Schalkwyk slower
balls and, once Puttick dragged medium-pacer Ryan Bailey into his stumps, there
was no more hope for the Cobras.
De Villiers finished with three for 15 and Van Schalkwyk two for 12, while
left-arm spinner Elgar took two wickets in the 14th over.
Teams:
Eagles:
Adrian McLaren, Morne van Wyk, Boeta
Dippenaar, Ryan Bailey, Dean Elgar, Ryan McLaren, Alan Kruger, Dillon du Preez,
Shadley van Schalkwyk, Aubrey Swanepoel, CJ de Villiers
Cape Cobras:
Derek Brand, Stiaan van Zyl, Henry Davids,
Richard Levi, Justin Ontong, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Andrew Puttick, Rory
Kleinveldt, Roger Telemachus, Claude Henderson, Charl Langeveldt