Cobras upset Titans
Rory Kleinveldt led a stunning bowling display by the Cape Cobras with his five wickets paving the way for a superb nine-wicket win over defending champions the Titans late on the final day at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Sunday.
The fast bowler took 5/45 in 18 overs as the home side were skittled for a poor 168 on the final afternoon, before the visitors eased to their 38-run victory target with just one wicket down.
It was a remarkable result for the Capetonians considering the match ended up constituting 239.4 overs – with just under half of the time lost due to rain and bad light.
However, the Cobras’ first innings batting display, built around a century from veteran Justin Ontong, and two disciplined performances by their bowlers set up a win that saw them climb off the foot of the table for the first time this season.
The Titans began the final day on 20/0 as a draw looked the most likely outcome. But after a 61-run opening stand between Aiden Markram (24) and Heino Kuhn (41), they lost all their wickets for 107.
Kleinveldt’s 18th career five-for proved pivotal, but Tshepo Moreki (2/37) proved a useful foil, and so did Jason Smith after he picked up 1/17 in 11.3 overs – his wicket being top-scorer Heinrich Klaasen (54 off 133 balls, 4 fours, 1 six).
The Cobras (70.66 points), who have enjoyed a real turnaround since the appointment of Ashwell Prince as coach at the turn of the year, walked away with 18.52 points, to move ahead of the Highveld Lions (67.18).
The Titans (76.66) fell to third, although all six teams remain in the title hunt with two rounds to play.
Latest
-
NewsSimon Harmer moves to 49 Championship wickets as Essex beat Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire were bowled out for 197.
-
NewsQ&A: Can England bounce back to level series in fifth Test against India?
The final Test gets under way at Old Trafford on Friday.
-
NewsEngland look set to be without Ben Stokes for Twenty20 World Cup
The all-rounder is currently taking an indefinite leave of absence from the sport.
-
NewsJos Buttler and Jack Leach return as England bid to salvage India series
Defeat by 157 runs at the Kia Oval has left the hosts 2-1 behind going into Friday’s decider at Emirates Old Trafford.
-
NewsOn this day in 2017: Ben Stokes gets his name on second Lord’s honours board
Stokes took six for 22 against West Indies to make his way on to the bowling honours board at the home of cricket.
-
NewsHarry Brook and Matthew Fisher inspire Yorkshire to crushing win over Somerset
The visitors had no answers at Scarborough.
-
NewsVirat Kohli says India’s bowling performance among top three of his captaincy
It was a display of skill and discipline on a pitch that England were sure had flattened out and there were plenty of heroes.
-
NewsJoe Root wants England to show more steel in big moments after fourth Test loss
A see-saw series swung back in the tourists’ favour as they roared to a 157-run victory in the fourth LV= Insurance Test.
-
NewsA look at some other times batting has let England down after fourth-Test defeat
England crashed to 147 for six as Ollie Pope fell for two and Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali for ducks.
-
NewsEngland outclassed as India ease to fourth Test victory
The hosts managed just 210 in their second innings as India took a 2-1 lead with a game to play.