The MTN Domestic Championship match between the Highveld Lions and the Cape Cobras at the Wanderers on Friday was washed out and called off as a no-result due to a typical Highveld thunderstorm, which initially curtailed proceedings for 11 minutes short of four hours.
When the Cape Cobras eventually took the field after the Wanderers ground staff had dried out the outfield, they were faced with a target of 173 off 30 overs.
The respite lasted all of nine minutes, which was when the heavens opened up once more to finally put an end to any further play, with Adam Bacher yet to score and Andrew Puttick on two.
Earlier, the home side won the toss and elected to bat. They started off briskly enough with Stephen Cook and Alviro Petersen putting on 32 for the first-wicket, before Cook was brilliantly caught by Benji Hector at short-extra-cover.
Justin Ontong and Petersen rebuilt the innings with a second-wicket partnership of 66 before Ashwell Prince and Con de Lange combined to run Ontong out for 31.
Hector came to the fore again, this time running out Petersen in a race to get to the stumps first.
However, Petersen had done his bit striking a 65-ball 64, which included seven fours and a towering six deposited into the stands.
When the lightning started fizzling around the stadium from floodlight pylon to floodlight pylon, Vaughn van Jaarsveld and Matthew Harris were on 15 and nine respectively, and the Lions had 142 for the loss of five wickets after 30,2 overs. — Sapa