Lions overcome Cobras in rain affected T20

Cape Town - Rassie van der Dussen made the most of the life granted to him by the Cape Cobras to carry the Highveld Lions to a seven-wicket victory in the second game of a RAM SLAM T20 double-header at PPC Newlands on Sunday.

Van der Dussen was dropped on five by Andrew Puttick off the bowling of Wayne Parnell as the Lions chased a target of 124 in 18 overs, and went on to score 55.

Although the 26-year-old was finally caught at wide long-on attempting to hit the winning runs, Dwaine Pretorius (24 not out) carved the next delivery to the boundary to win the game with eight balls to spare.

The Cobras started the game like a house on fire, with Richard Levi and Puttick putting on 52 in the opening five overs, but after Levi was caught on the fence for 22, things fell apart surprisingly quickly.

In the next over, Aaron Phangiso dismissed Puttick for 30 and Justin Ontong for a duck, in between which Omphile Ramela was run out.

That left the Cobras on 55 for four when rain stopped play at the end of the seventh over, forcing them to rebuild their innings in difficult conditions - and preferably do so quickly now that the game had been reduced to 18 overs per side.

With wickets continuing to fall at the other end Kieron Pollard was instead forced to take the patient approach, and ended up with just 29 not out from 34 deliveries as the Cobras finished on 125 for eight.

The target was adjusted down by the Duckworth-Lewis Method, and the Cobras needed a disciplined showing in the field if they were to defend it.

Instead Van der Dussen’s edge was put down by Puttick, Alviro Petersen was dropped by Robin Peterson, and the Cobras generally looked out of sorts in the field.

That proved costly as the right-hander went on to hit three sixes and two fours in a 48-ball innings, and found solid support from Devon Conway (24), Petersen (15) and Pretorius.