Cape Town – Proteas Test batsman Stiaan van Zyl has been dropped from the Cape Cobras side for Sunday’s One-Day Cup final against the Highveld Lions at Newlands.
In a huge call by Cobras coach Paul Adams, Van Zyl makes way for Richard Levi, who returns to the starting XI after missing the second half of the league competition as he was playing in the Masters Champions League in Dubai.
That means Andrew Puttick retains his place at the top of the order, while wicketkeeper Dane Vilas is the last recognised batsman at No 5, although all-rounder Wayne Parnell – who opened the batting for most of the season – is set down for No 7.
So the Cobras top-five will have to get the bulk of the runs, and they will have to do so this morning after the Lions captain Stephen Cook won the toss and opted to rather chase despite it being a day game.
Perhaps his decision was based on the outcome of the last encounter between the two teams, when the Lions were shot out for 133 by the Cobras in Paarl a few weeks ago.
So the Lions batting line-up will hope that any juice in the pitch will have dried out by the time they are at the crease sometime.
Lions coach Geoffrey Toyana will be elated to have Proteas Test star Temba Bavuma returning from a back injury, while leg-spinner Eddie Leie has also recovered from a hamstring problem.
TEAMS:
Cape Cobras: Andrew Puttick, Richard Levi, Omphile Ramela, Justin Ontong (captain), Dane Vilas (w/k), Aviwe Mgijima, Wayne Parnell, Dane Piedt, Dane Paterson, Tshepo Moreki, Beuran Hendricks.
Highveld Lions: Stephen Cook (captain), Rassie van der Dussen, Alviro Petersen, Temba Bavuma, Dominic Hendricks, Nicky van den Bergh (w/k), Dwaine Pretorius, Hardus Viljoen, Aaron Phangiso, Eddie Leie, Pumelela Matshikwe.
@IndyCapeSport