Publications
Partners
Cape Town - The Cape Cobras have won the toss and have decided to bat first against the Titans in the final of the Momentum One Day Cup at a gloomy and windy Newlands on Friday.
The umpires, Johan Cloete and Shaun George, took the players from the field of play just before 3.30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2) after just 5.5 overs were bowled, due to heavy rain. The Cobras had seven runs on the board at that stage.
When the players left the field, the Cobras were seven without loss with Andrew Puttick on four not out and his opening partner, Omphile Ramela on two.
Ethy Mbhalati, who bowled the only wide of the game so far, had conceded three runs in 2.5 overs. Roelof van der Merwe opened the bowling and conceded three runs in two overs while CJ de Villiers bowled just one over for one run.
The ground staff are currently on the field, pegging down the covers, which are covering the square and the bowlers’ run-ups, to prevent the wind from lifting the covers and allowing water to get underneath.
The rain is falling quite steadily at Newlands, with the weather forecasters predicting a ‘Black South Easter’ to lash the Cape over the next 36 hours.
The Cobras, who are joint holders of the Momentum One Day Cup, along with the bizhub Highveld Lions, will be hoping they get a chance to win the trophy outright. Last seasons’ final at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, was also interrupted by rain.
The first attempt was washed out with the Cobras in deep trouble after Hardus Viljoen destroyed their top-order. The Cobras started off much better when the game was restarted the following day, but again rain ruined the party.
The weather forecast does not look good for the match, with a fair amount of rain scheduled to fall over the Mother City over the next 36 hours. Local reports are that the “Black South Easter” is due to hit Cape Town this weekend, with normal weather returning on Sunday.
Should a result not be possible today, then Saturday has been set aside as a reserve day, but with the forecast for tomorrow looking even worse than today, the possibility of the Cobras having to share the 50-over trophy for a second consecutive season, is on the cards.
The Cobras have the luxury of hosting this year’s final as they ended top of the log, with six victories from 10 games. The Cobras ended on 28 points, the same as the Sunfoil Dolphins, but ended above the Durban-side by virtue of having won more games.
The Titans made an impressive dash for the final, having won against the bizhub Highveld Lions, Chevrolet Knights and then earning a bonus-point victory over the Chevrolet Warriors to leap-frog the men from Port Elizabeth.
The Titans then went to Durban and outplayed the Dolphins to win by five wickets, thanks mainly to Heino Kuhn, who scored 102 off 117 balls with five boundaries and a six, as the men in light blue chased down their target of 238 with nine balls to spare.
The hosts will have a psychological advantage over the visitors, as the Cobras have beaten the Titans twice this season, by one-run in an exciting opener in Centurion and then by four wickets at Boland Park in Paarl.
But this is a final and anything can happen. The hosts will be buoyed by the availability of the Proteas pair of Robin Peterson and Vernon Philander, who will add depth and experience to the squad.
CAPE COBRAS:
Andrew Puttick, Omphile Ramela, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas (wk), Justin Ontong (capt), Justin Kemp, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Rory Kleinveldt, Dane Piedt, Charl Langeveldt.
TITANS:
Heino Kuhn, Francois le Clus, Qaasim Adams, Farhaan Behardien (capt), Roelof van der Merwe, Cobus Pienaar, Mangaliso Mosehle (wk), Ethy Mbhalati, Graeme van Buuren, CJ de Villiers, Shaun von Berg
The umpires, Johan Cloete and Shaun George, took the players from the field of play just before 3.30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2) after just 5.5 overs were bowled, due to heavy rain. The Cobras had seven runs on the board at that stage.
When the players left the field, the Cobras were seven without loss with Andrew Puttick on four not out and his opening partner, Omphile Ramela on two.
Ethy Mbhalati, who bowled the only wide of the game so far, had conceded three runs in 2.5 overs. Roelof van der Merwe opened the bowling and conceded three runs in two overs while CJ de Villiers bowled just one over for one run.
The ground staff are currently on the field, pegging down the covers, which are covering the square and the bowlers’ run-ups, to prevent the wind from lifting the covers and allowing water to get underneath.
The rain is falling quite steadily at Newlands, with the weather forecasters predicting a ‘Black South Easter’ to lash the Cape over the next 36 hours.
The Cobras, who are joint holders of the Momentum One Day Cup, along with the bizhub Highveld Lions, will be hoping they get a chance to win the trophy outright. Last seasons’ final at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, was also interrupted by rain.
The first attempt was washed out with the Cobras in deep trouble after Hardus Viljoen destroyed their top-order. The Cobras started off much better when the game was restarted the following day, but again rain ruined the party.
The weather forecast does not look good for the match, with a fair amount of rain scheduled to fall over the Mother City over the next 36 hours. Local reports are that the “Black South Easter” is due to hit Cape Town this weekend, with normal weather returning on Sunday.
Should a result not be possible today, then Saturday has been set aside as a reserve day, but with the forecast for tomorrow looking even worse than today, the possibility of the Cobras having to share the 50-over trophy for a second consecutive season, is on the cards.
The Cobras have the luxury of hosting this year’s final as they ended top of the log, with six victories from 10 games. The Cobras ended on 28 points, the same as the Sunfoil Dolphins, but ended above the Durban-side by virtue of having won more games.
The Titans made an impressive dash for the final, having won against the bizhub Highveld Lions, Chevrolet Knights and then earning a bonus-point victory over the Chevrolet Warriors to leap-frog the men from Port Elizabeth.
The Titans then went to Durban and outplayed the Dolphins to win by five wickets, thanks mainly to Heino Kuhn, who scored 102 off 117 balls with five boundaries and a six, as the men in light blue chased down their target of 238 with nine balls to spare.
The hosts will have a psychological advantage over the visitors, as the Cobras have beaten the Titans twice this season, by one-run in an exciting opener in Centurion and then by four wickets at Boland Park in Paarl.
But this is a final and anything can happen. The hosts will be buoyed by the availability of the Proteas pair of Robin Peterson and Vernon Philander, who will add depth and experience to the squad.
CAPE COBRAS:
Andrew Puttick, Omphile Ramela, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas (wk), Justin Ontong (capt), Justin Kemp, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Rory Kleinveldt, Dane Piedt, Charl Langeveldt.
TITANS:
Heino Kuhn, Francois le Clus, Qaasim Adams, Farhaan Behardien (capt), Roelof van der Merwe, Cobus Pienaar, Mangaliso Mosehle (wk), Ethy Mbhalati, Graeme van Buuren, CJ de Villiers, Shaun von Berg
