Rain frustrates Knights, Cobras

Kimberley - Half-centuries from Stiaan van Zyl and Omphile Ramela gave the Cape Cobras a steady start to their second innings before rain intervened on day three of their Sunfoil Series encounter against the Knights at the Diamond Oval.

Van Zyl scored 52 and Ramela put on an unbeaten 76 as the Cobras reached 165/2 before the rain arrived to wipe out more than a session of play.

The loss of almost 40 overs generally has a negative impact on four-day games, but with the two sides occupying the bottom two spots on the log, both desperately need a win and so an intriguing final day of attacking cricket could lie in store on Sunday.

The Cobras began day three with a fresh innings having trailed by 10 runs in the first innings, but lost Richard Levi to the third ball when he was caught behind off the bowling of Duanne Olivier.

They recovered quickly, however, with Van Zyl and Ramela putting on a 107-run stand in 28 overs that put them on the front foot.

Corne Dry made the second breakthrough for the Knights when he removed Van Zyl, before Ramela and Andrew Puttick applied a cautious approach, with their unbroken stand of 58 scored at barely more than two runs per over.

Puttick’s 27 not out came from 87 deliveries, but both batsmen will undoubtedly look to move the game along on the fourth morning.