Cape Town - Omphile Ramela and Andrew Puttick both hit centuries as bat again dominated ball on the third day of the Sunfoil Series clash between the Cape Cobras and the Warriors at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.
Captain Ramela struck an extremely patient 170 (370 balls, 26 fours), while veteran Puttick was equally slow in notching up 124 (320 balls, 18 fours) with the pair helping their side close on 374/3 in reply to the visitors’ 525/7 declared.
Just three wickets fell all day with the Cobras looking to bat their way back into form after a tough start to the season.
The Cape side lost both opening games, but showed marked signs of improvement, thanks to the solid foundation laid by their openers.
The pair had the first hour of play off after a rain delay, but resumed on 94/0 at the start. Ramela, on 55 overnight, was first to reach his century after lunch, the ninth time in his career he had reached three figures.
Puttick followed not long after with his 25th career ton, before he was bowled by Basheer Walters (1/51) following a 266-run opening stand.
Zubayr Hamza (23) followed not long after, falling to the spin of Warriors’ captain Simon Harmer (1/117).
Ramela eventually fell with around a half-hour to go, falling to part-timer Eddie Moore (1/13) after a marathon knock of over eight hours.
Stiaan van Zyl (22) and Jason Smith (27) then took the Cobras to stumps with a first-innings deficit of 151 and the match almost certainly destined for a draw.