The SuperSport Series match between the Cape Cobras and the Warriors ended in a fairly tame draw at Boland Bank Park in Paarl on Sunday.
Chasing a total of 264 to win, the Cobras were on 98 for three when the match was called off as a draw.
The Warriors resumed play on the final day of the match on their overnight score of 115 for three. Johan Botha made 69 to add to his undefeated 91 in the first innings. Robin Peterson contributed 48, and the Warriors reached a total of 302 all out.
Monde Zondeki, who took all three wickets to fall on Saturday, added Botha’s wicket for a final tally of four for 65, while Vernon Philander took four for 61. Coen de Lange took the other two wickets.
The Cobras lost an early wicket when Coen de Lange was caught by Arno Jacobs off Lonwabo Tsotsobe for three, with the score on seven. Andrew Puttick fell to the same combination, for 24, and Botha trapped Henry Davids leg before wicket for 14.
JP Duminy was not out on 36 and Ashwell Prince had 10 when stumps were drawn.
Botha and Peterson shared the man-of-the-match award.
Tame draw in Durban
Because of the loss of more than two-and-a-half days’ play out of four because of unfavourable weather, the Supersport Series cricket match between the Dolphins and the Highveld Lions at the Sahara Stadium Kingsmead in Durban was always destined to be a tame draw.
And so it was on Sunday as the two sides played out their respective first innings in pursuit of bonus batting and bowling points.
The Dolphins were dismissed for 147 and 63 runs in arrears after the Lions, resuming on 77 for three from Thursday, had got to 210 for nine before a lunch-time declaration with Neil McKenzie making 46 — he only managed to add two runs on Sunday; Heinrich le Roux making 41, Mathew Harris 39 and Justin Ontong 20.
Three Dolphins bowlers — Shaun Pollock, Liam Plunkett and Johann Louw — got three wickets apiece and the home side appeared to have the upper hand.
But after reaching 89 for one at tea, the batting wheels disintegrated somewhat and with three wickets tumbling on 108, the Lions had gained the morale-boosting victory and the greater share of the points with 6.2 to four.
Imraan Khan (34), Wayne Madsen (opening the innings in the place of Doug Watson who was suffering from a strain) and Hashim Amla all got into the 30s.
That was before an inspired spell by man-of-the-match Garnett Kruger, who finished with six for 49 off 14 overs including the delivery of six no-balls, one of which actually cost him a seventh wicket on the day as they finished three runs shy of a batting bonus point.
He was well backed by spinner Claude Henderson who took three wickets to put the skids firmly on the Dolphins’ effort. — Sapa