Johannesburg – An attacking half-century from Quinton de Kock helped the Highveld Lions wrap up a comprehensive eight-wicket victory, before tea, on day three of their Sunfoil Series clash against log leaders the Cape Cobras in Cape Town on Saturday.
De Kock struck 55 from 75 deliveries and Neil McKenzie added a quickfire 28 off 14 with the visitors reaching the 124-run victory target in 27.4 overs.
Earlier, veteran all-rounder Zander de Bruyn took 3/16, for a superb match haul of 8/55, to lead the way as the hosts were dismissed for just 169.
More than half of those runs came from Qaasim Adams, who struck 88. The left-hander, who resumed on 27 when the Cobras started on 81/6 in the morning session, lost partner Johann Louw (12) in the fourth over of the day when he was cleaned up by Proteas spinner Imran Tahir.
That left the Cape side on 96/7, before Charl Langeveldt (19) added 63 with Adams to lift their team beyond the 150-run mark. Adams reached his 11th first-class half-century in 55 deliveries.
After Tahir trapped Langeveldt leg-before wicket, medium-pacer De Bruyn claimed two wickets in three balls to wrap up the tail.
Proteas T20 wicketkeeper De Kock and Stephen Cook (16) began the run chase briskly as the Gauteng outfit coasted to 50 in the 16th over.
The two put on 73 before the opening stand was broken by Alistair Gray, who removed De Kock.
McKenzie and Temba Bavuma (14) added the finishing touches as the win was sealed with over 40 overs still remaining in the day.
Victory kept the Lions in third, but moved them to 71.12 points from six games, just behind the Warriors (74.38) and the Cobras, who now have 86.06 from seven matches. – Sapa