Benoni - The Cape Cobras pulled off an exciting seven-wicket victory over the Titans at Willowmoore Park on Sunday.
For much of the day, the match appeared to be meandering towards a tame draw.
The Titans, with a first innings deficit of 195 showed little urgency and it seemed they were just trying to hang on for a draw. They started the day well, on 63 without loss, but gradually began to lose wickets.
Once again it was the blond spin bowler, Claud Henderson, who did the initial damage, dismissing Blake Snijman (42) and Jacques Rudolph (38) in the first hour of play. Both were caught by Cobras captain Justin Kemp.
Henderson toiled hard on a hot and windy day in Benoni, and finally ended with the admirable match figures of 10/196 off 84.3
overs, which earned him the player of the match award. Another spin bowler, Justin Ontong, came to the party with three for 20 off 12 overs.
At tea, the Titans were just 46 runs ahead of the Cobras, with two wickets in hand. Ontong took the third of his wickets to send CJ de Villiers back to the dressing room, and Vernon Philander wrapped up the innings when he bowled Hardus Viljoen for 15.
Needing a mere 76 runs to claim victory, the Cobras made heavy weather of the task, losing three wickets on the way. Andrew Puttick was leg before wicket to Roelof van der Merwe for three, Omphile Ramela was cleverly run out by Gulam Bodi for 21 and Ontong was caught by Ethy Mbhalati off De Villiers for 16.
However, Stiaan van Zyl, who made a career-best 172 in the first innings, and Richard Levi, steered the Cobras safely home. - Sapa