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Cobras post imposing lead

Cape Town - A half-century from Stiaan van Zyl helped the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras to 255 for seven in their second innings at stumps and an imposing 351-run lead over the Chevrolet Knights on the third day of their SuperSport Series match at Sahara Park Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.

Van Zyl scored a patient 53 off 159 balls as the home side set about batting their opponents out of the match despite off-spinner Thandi Tshabalala ending the day with figures of five for 92 off 26 overs.

The Cobras’ second dig was given a solid start by Andrew Puttick (20) and Alistair Gray (39), who put on 36 runs for the first wicket before the left-handed Puttick was dismissed by off-spinner Thandi Tshabalala off the last ball before the lunch break.

Gray was then run out to leave the Cobras on 74 for two before Van Zyl and Justin Ontong (39) combined for a 77-run third-wicket partnership before Ontong was dismissed by Tshabalala.

Van Zyl was eventually trapped leg-before by seamer Dillon du Preez to leave the Cobras on 182 for four before Tshabalala winkled out Justin Kemp (10).

Richard Levi weighed in with 47 runs before he became Tshabalala’s fourth victim shortly before the close of play.

Tshabalala just had time to complete the third five-wicket haul of his first-class career as he bowled Ryan Canning (6).

Rory Kleinveldt (8 not out) and Vernon Philander (19 not out) then took their team to the close of play.

Philander had earlier finished with figures of six for 61 off 22.5 overs as the Knights were bowled out for 234, just under an hour before lunch, with the visitors trailing the Cobras by 96 runs on the first innings.

The Knights began the day on 199 for six and they added 18 runs to their total before Boeta Dippenaar edged a delivery from seamer Kleinveldt through to keeper Ryan Canning to be dismissed for 76 off 232 balls with the right-handed batsman having struck 14 fours.

In his next over Kleinveldt had Du Preez (0) caught behind as the Knights slipped to 221 for eight.

Paceman Philander then wrapped up his eighth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket when he removed Tshabalala (1) before Philander ended the Knights’ innings when he bowled Victor Mpitsang (6).

Obus Pienaar was the not out batsman on 17. 
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