Cape Cobras coach Paul Adams had asked his players to improve their intensity. They responded in emphatic fashion in Paarl yesterday with a clinical eight-wicket romp against the Knights.
Wayne Parnell has his detractors, especially when he plays international cricket for the Proteas. However, the 25-year-old remains one of the country’s most talented cricketers. He just needs some tender loving care – like national coach Russell Domingo likes to say – and consistent game time.
At his new franchise, the Cobras, Parnell will receive bundles of both. It seems like he is responding to his new environment, too, with seven wickets, including four yesterday, in his last two matches.
The left-arm seamer bowled with impressive pace and control to set the tone on a typical steamy day in the winelands.
Adams, though, will also be pleased with the support his strike bowler was offered. Although the Boland Park pitch didn’t offer much in the form of turn for Robin Peterson, the veteran spinner remained miserly in terms of the way he controlled his flight and pace of his delivery throughout his overs, as the Knights dawdled to 211/7.
Peterson strung a noose around the Knights batting line-up early on, which tightened with every wicket that fell. It was not until a 107-run partnership between Obus Pienaar and Knights captain Werner Coetsee that the visitors could move the scoreboard along freely.
There is a saying that the quality of a cricket pitch should always be judged after both teams have had an opportunity to bat on it. Although slower than recent surfaces at Paarl, Cobras openers Richard Levi (71) and Stiaan van Zyl (90 not out,) quickly showed that with a more positive attitude at the crease, runs could be accumulated with ease.
The duo raced to a 100-run stand for the opening wicket in just 108 balls and 70 minutes, which effectively closed off the match as a contest. As is customary, Levi was the aggressor, although the powerful opener showed greater control yesterday and was ultimately unfortunate to miss out on a three-figure score.
His game plan is very simplistic but highly effective, as he bludgeons anything over-pitched through or over the covers while short balls are despatched to the midwicket boundary.
Levi was helped along by a more positive approach from Van Zyl, which the Proteas test opener has displayed in recent matches.
The latter showed a greater desire to get on the front foot to unleash his glorious cover drive while also being able to punch forcefully off the back foot.
When Levi’s innings ended tamely at the hands of his old Wynberg Boys’ High schoolmate Malusi Siboto, it brought Omphile Ramela to the crease.
Ramela, also criticised for his slow strike-rate in the Cobras’ defeat against the Highveld Lions in their first outing, came out guns blazing and intent on finishing off the match in a hurry.
It was a source of good entertainment for the spectators on the grass embankments, with the four-day specialist unleashing a flurry of exquisite cover-drives and deft late-cuts.
Ramela (43, 41 balls, 6x4) was unfortunately not there to see it to the end for the hosts, but the job had been done, leaving Van Zyl to add the finishing touches.
The victory concluded a highly-productive weekend for the Cobras after they edged out the Titans at Newlands on Friday, and can now bid farewell to their Proteas Test stars (Van Zyl, Dane Vilas, Vernon Philander and Dane Piedt) knowing they are well placed on the One-Day Cup log. - Cape Argus