Lions get Cobras in chokehold

Potchefstroom - Lions skipper Stephen Cook on Friday produced a commanding undefeated 147 to put the home side in the driving seat as they reached 267 for two at the close of play against the Cape Cobras.

This puts them just 33 runs behind the visitors' first innings of 300 and Cook, with senior lieutenant Neil McKenzie, will be looking to drive home their advantage when play resumes on Saturday.

In hitting his 29th first-class hundred, Cook received excellent support from Rassie van der Dussen (23) in a first-wicket stand of 73 and then Dominic Hendricks struck 68 off 141 balls in second-wicket partnership of 155 - which left the Cobras staring up the barrel after two days.

After resuming their first innings on 279 for seven, the Cape Cobras could add only 21 more runs on Friday before they were dismissed for 300.

Shaheen Khan, 23 overnight, was left unbeaten on 30 as Sean Jamison and Dwaine Pretorius cleaned up the Cobras tail.

Jamison had taken two wickets late on Thursday and he picked up two more on Friday morning to end with commendable figures of four for 66.

Dwaine Pretorius was also impressive in taking four for 63.

Scoreboard on day two of the four-day match:

Toss: Lions

Cape Cobras first innings (o/night 279/7)

R Levi c Tsolekile b Pretorius 95

O Ramela lbw b Pretorius 20

K Petersen b Matshikwe 47

M Vallie b Matshikwe 26

D Vilas c Hendricks b Pretorius 24

S Engelbrecht c Tsolekile b Jamison 37

S Khan not out 30

G Linde c Tsolekile b Jamison 2

M Shezi c McKenzie b Jamison 0

L Williams c McKenzie b Pretorius 1

D Paterson c Cook b Jamison 10

Extras (lb5, w1, nb2) 8

Total (all out) 300 -- 97.5 overs

Fall of wickets: 1-65, 2-152, 3-191, 4-192, 5-229, 6-269, 7-279, 8-281, 9-283m 10-300

Bowling: Matshikwe 18-5-42-2, Mazibuko 12-1-52-0 (1nb), Jamison 18.5-6-66-4 (1nb 1w), Pretorius 24-7-63-4, Deeb 25-5-72-0

Lions first innings

S Cook not out 147

H van Dussen c Vilas b Paterson 23

D Hendricks c Engelbrecht b Linde 68

N McKenzie not out 18

Extras: (b2, lb1, w1, nb7) 11

Total (2 wickets) 267 -- 85 overs

Fall of wickets: 1-73, 2-228

Bowling: Shezi 14-6-35-0, Paterson 16-4-39-1 (5nb, 1w), Williams 10-0-49-0 (2nb), Khan 9-2-23-0, Linde 27-5-81-1, Engelbrecht 9-1-37-0.