A five-wicket haul for Rory Kleinveldt enabled the Cape Cobras to dismiss the Knights for 218 on the first day of their SuperSport Series match against the Cobras in Kimberley on Thursday.
The Knights’ innings started off disastrously with openers Dean Elgar and Reeza Hendricks back in the pavilion without scoring within the first seven overs of the day.
The top order continued to struggle under the Cobras’ bowling attack with Rilee Rossouw only adding eight runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of Johann Louw.
Boeta Dippenaar and Obus Pienaar instigated the recovery with a fourth-wicket partnership of 48 before Pienaar edged a Kleinveldt delivery to wicketkeeper Dane Vilas.
From that point onwards it was a procession back to the hut with only the veteran Dippenaar putting up any resistance with a worthy knock of 69 runs off 200 balls.
Kleinveldt was the pick of the Cobras bowlers returning figures of five for 26 and he was ably abetted by Vilas who took six catches behind the sticks.
The Cobras innings started off inauspiciously with Andrew Puttick losing his wicket in the second over Yaseen Vallie, failed to make much of an impression before being trapped in the crease by Malusi Siboto.
On fire
When the umpires called time the Cobras were 23 for two with Louw on 15 and Justin Ontong still to get off the mark.
Meanwhile in Benoni, the Titans’ top-order also struggled to get their innings off the ground against the Warriors as they were on 258 for six at the close of play.
Lonwabo Tsotsobe was on fire with the ball in hand as he claimed four Titans scalps for 54 runs.
Aspiring Proteas gloveman Heino Kuhn did not do much for his cause as he was out for two, while Martin van Jaarsveld made a duck, clean-bowled by Tsotsobe.
Tsotsobe then claimed the wickets of Farhaan Behardien (1) and Tumelo Bodibe (18).
Faf du Plessis and Henry Davids dug their heels in with a partnership of 128 before Simon Harmer dismissed Davids on 55 runs.
Du Plessis reached his sixth first-class hundred off 142 deliveries, which included 18 fours and a six, he was out bowled by JJ Smuts for 112 runs.
Albie Morkel, who joined Du Plessis after Davids’ dismissal, continued where Du Plessis left off with a knock of 44 runs off 67 deliveries.
By the close of play Morkel was at the crease with David Wiese on 16. — Sapa