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Midrand - A sparkling double century from the Protea's captain Graeme Smith and a record opening partnership with Andrew Puttick put the Cape Cobras back in the frame in their SuperSport match against the Highveld Lions, at Randjesfontein, on Saturday.
Their opening partnership of 333 beats the previous one of the franchise era, set by Maurice Aronstam and Heino Kuhn for the Titans in a SuperSport match against the Dolphins in Pietermaritzburg 2006/07.
When the umpires took the players off the Park for bad light, the Cape visitors had a lead of 159 with Stiaan van Zyl on 27 and Justin Ontong on 14.
The visitors, facing a shortfall of 219 in order to make their hosts bat again, slowly-but-surely whittled the deficit away and by the time the 55th over was completed the Cobras were back in credit, thanks in no small measure to the heroics of Smith and Puttick.
It was a masterclass performance from Smith who was troubled by a swinging ball on the opening day. However, he showed it was no more than a slight aberration as he played some delightful cuts, pulls, drives and nudges off both the front and back foot.
Smith's century - his 30th first-class - came off 121-balls with a drive over the covers, and the 200 came off 212 deliveries - his seventh double - with a single through mid-wicket.
Puttick's ton was more sedate, coming off 209-balls, which included 13 fours and a six.
As is the norm in cases like this, both batsmen departed within nine balls of each other, with score on triple Nelson (333).
Smith was caught on the boundary by Robbie Frylinck off McKenzie and Puttick caught by McKenzie at point off Alviro Petersen, Smith for 217 and Puttick on 111.
Earlier, the home side who started the third-day on 409 for eight, were on the back-foot from the outset, with Robbie Frylinck (31) back in the hut for the addition of only a single.
The harbinger of doom then reared it's ugly head, with the Paul Harris' s elbow on the receiving end of a rising delivery from Vernon Philander, the resounding crack was there for all to hear.
The Lion's spinner was immediately rushed to the doctor, and fortunately for Harris, and the Lions the diagnosis was no more than bad bruising, and the bowler was able to resume his duties.
But with the departure of Harris the innings was deemed to be over.
