A sixth career five-wicket haul from Rory Kleinveldt put the Cobras in complete control of their SuperSport Series match against the Titans in Benoni on Thursday.
The seamer ripped through the home side’s batting line-up and eventually ended up with five for 26 to help bundle the hosts out for a paltry 112 in 44 overs.
He was given good support by Johann Louw, while a brisk 66 from Stiaan van Zyl then put the defending champions on top as they reached the close of play on 173 for five, for a lead of 61.
The Cobras opener was given good support by Andrew Puttick (41) and Justin Ontong (39) but the pressure was far less on the visitors thanks to the early destruction by Kleinveldt, who removed the Titans’ top five.
Rushdi Jappie fell off the eighth ball of the innings after the Cobras won the toss and elected to field first, followed by the prize wicket of the in-form Jacques Rudolph for two.
It was nine for two at that stage and only a 73-run partnership between top-scorer Farhaan Behardien (45) and Henry Davids (29) helped them post a total above a 100.
The departure of Behardien and Davids sparked a collapse, the batting folded, including ducks for captain Martin van Jaarsveld, Heino Kuhn and David Wiese and the current competition log leaders had lost their last eight wickets for 30 runs.
In reply, opener Van Zyl brought up his half-century from exactly 50 deliveries before he was eventually dismissed by Proteas slow left-armer Paul Harris.
Dane Vilas (24) and Robin Peterson (one) were unbeaten at the close.
Meanwhile in Kimberley, Reeza Hendricks fell four runs short of a century as the Knights closed the opening day against the Warriors on 307 for eight.
The opener shared in a 157-run stand with Boeta Dippenaar (84), but their wickets either side of tea triggered a mini collapse, which saw them slip from 200for two to 227for six.
Hendricks’ 160-ball 96 included 18 boundaries, while Dippenaar struck 14 fours in his 203-ball stay.
After the collapse, Johan van der Wath (31) shared in a 60 run partnership with Michael Erlank, who was on 36 not out by the close.
For the Warriors, Rusty Theron was the pick of the bowlers claiming three for while Warren Bell ended with two for 47. – Sapa