A double hundred in the One-day Cup is not far off, says Richard Levi, one of the batsmen many would tip to be first to the landmark.
But it is unlikely to happen in Friday’s final of the competition between the Cape Cobras and the Warriors at Newlands.
Levi, a boundary-hungry weapon for the Cobras at the top of the order, reckons a team total of 300 is possible at Newlands. Whereas some coastal wickets tended to be low, slow and provide a little grip, Newlands wasn’t like that any more, the opening bat said. The pitches at the final venue had picked up a bit of pace, and bounce as well, he added.
“(Even) under lights, there is a bit for the bowlers for the first eight or nine overs, then it’s quite nice for the batters when the ball is older.”
Levi hit 110 off 57 balls in the Cobras’ second game of the campaign, against the Lions at the Wanderers early last month. He was dismissed in the 21st over, which suggested that a double hundred was within his ambit given the scoring tempo he had maintained.
“At the World Cup we saw players getting out on scores past 150, with 10 overs left in the innings,” said Levi.
“That day at the Wanderers was a perfect opportunity to try (to get 200), the way I was playing... but my luck ran out. A 200 would be hard at the coast, but definitely on the Highveld, it could happen soon.”
Soon would have to be next season, but first there is a final to be played on Friday.
“The Warriors have an international bowling line-up, but if we stick to our game-plans against them, we can (win). We’ve beaten them two out of two this season with good plans against their bowlers.”
Levi does his heavy scoring (his 20 sixes is the most in the competition) in the opening 10-over power-play, but is positive about the reversion to a 50-over format in the domestic one-dayers this season.
“It allows pure, decent cricket to be played again, with decent strategies in place. And there’s time for the old-fashioned anchor role too.”
The so-called anchor role is not the one Levi fulfils, of course. “My job description is to take the game ahead as quickly as possible,” is how he puts it. And if there has been criticism of his getting out a couple of times after blazing 30s and 40s, Levi contended that square-leg, where he had been caught, was one of his biggest scoring areas.
“The rewards can outweigh the risk. I got out off different strokes, so there is no (bad) pattern there.”
The return of five Proteas Test players to the Cobras ranks at the business end of the competition has strengthened the already strong and smoothly-performing Cobras considerably.
“The internationals just add to the team, they help calm down and control things more. They have put back into the team, and blended well.”
The Cobras, with their surfeit of quality players, will make their final selection tomorrow, with the one definite absentee being Herschelle Gibbs. - Cape Argus