/ 30 December 2011

Harmer puts Cobras in a spin

Warriors spin bowler Simon Harmer steamrolled the Cape Cobras, bagging career-best figures as the visitors stormed to a 139-run win in Paarl on Friday, lifting themselves from the bottom of the SuperSport Series table.

The Cobras resumed their second innings in the morning, needing 272 runs to win with a bag full of wickets in hand.

Harmer, however, ripped through the order, with only middle-order batsman Dane Vilas, who made 57, able to put up any real fight as they were bowled out for 153 runs.

The 22-year-old spinner twice bagged two wickets in an over, returning innings figures of eight for 72, and was also involved in the run-out of Johann Louw.

He took career-best match figures of eight for 149, though the Man of the Match accolade was reserved for Warriors captain Colin Ingram, who shone with the bat.

Ingram made 140 runs in the visiting side’s first innings and was unbeaten on 92 in their second, leading from the front as he lay the foundation of the victory.

Rain scare
In Benoni, the Highveld Lions escaped a late rain scare, cruising to a thumping nine-wicket victory over title chasers the Titans in Benoni. The visitors needed 158 runs to win after dismissing the Titans for 201 in the morning session.

The hosts made early inroads with the dismissal of in-form Lions captain Alviro Petersen when the opener was removed by Albie Morkel for a duck from the fourth ball of the innings.

Stephen Cook, however, joined forces with Jonathan Vandiar in an unbeaten 159-run stand for the second wicket, guiding the Lions to their second win of the season.

The heavens opened in the afternoon session, with the Lions needing only 22 runs to win but the delay was short-lived as Cook and Vandiar returned to finish the job.

Cook, who hit a century in the Lions’ first innings, made 77 at the top of the order, and Vandiar contributed 81.

Lions spinner Eddie Leie, playing only his second top-flight game, returned figures of 10 for 146 and was named Man of the Match. — Sapa