Cape Cobras ease past Titans

Cape Town - The Cape Cobras extended their unbeaten run in the Sunfoil Series by beating the Titans by 10 wickets at Newlands on Saturday. The win also helps keep the Western Cape franchise at top of the Sunfoil Series table.

The Cape Cobras declared late on the second day on 476/8, 284 runs ahead, after fine knocks from Andrew Puttick, Alistair Gray, Stiaan van Zyl and Qaasim Adams who hit 66 off 74 balls. Their opening bowlers then bagged two quick scalps to leave the Nashua Titans reeling on 15/2, still 269 runs behind at stumps on day two.

With the Titans in a bit of a pickle on the third morning, Johann Louw struck again for the home side, dismissing Pieter Malan with the batsman getting an edge through to third slip where Van Zyl took the catch. Heino Kuhn, however, dug in and notched up an unbeaten 74 while Jacques Rudolph looked steady at the other end on 19 not out.

The Nashua Titans went to lunch on 131/3, still 153 runs behind the Cape Cobras’ first innings total.

After the break, Kuhn went on to make 84 before Louw trapped him leg-before for 84. Mangaliso Moshele and David Wiese both fell relatively cheaply, but Rudolph stood firm and added 77 before he edged through to Dane Vilas off Louw. Roelof van der Merwe soon followed after adding just five, edging through to Vilas off Beuran Hendricks.

Shaun von Berg launched a late assault, scoring 23 off 28 balls, including two fours and a six off a Louw over, but the tail-ender was dismissed getting a thick edge off Justin Kemp with Yaseen Vallie running back from point to take a good catch over his shoulders.

The late resistance from the visitors had erased the deficit, but it wasn't enough and the Titans were all out for 301 in their second innings.

The Cape Cobras had to bat again, needing just 18 to win. Openers Puttick and Gray made light work of the target and knocked it off in just 4.2 overs to claim a very convincing victory on home turf.

The Cape Cobras claimed 18.98 points while the Titans only received 2.84, which keeps them rooted to the bottom of the table.

Teams:

Cape Cobras:

Andrew Puttick, Alistair Gray, Stiaan van Zyl, Yaseen Vallie, Qaasim Adams, Dane Villas (captain), Justin Kemp, Vernon Philander, Johann Louw, Dane Piedt, Beuran Hendricks

Titans:

Heino Kuhn (captain), Tumelo Bodibe, Rowan Richards, David Wiese, Jacques Rudolph, Shaun von Berg, Roelof van der Merwe,  CJ de Villiers, Mangaliso Moshele, Pieter Malan, Tumi Masekela