Cape Town - Wayne Parnell produced his best ever match figures of 12/105 to inspire the Cape Cobras to a comprehensive nine-wicket win over the Dolphins in the Sunfoil Series at Newlands on Saturday.
Left-arm seamer Parnell, who took 7/51 in 15 overs in the first innings, claimed another “fifer” in the second (5/54 off 14 overs) to annihilate an inexperienced Dolphins outfit under new management after Lance Klusener’s contract was not renewed.
The KwaZulu-Natal side were dismissed for a paltry 139 in their second innings on Saturday after the Cobras scored 252 in a rain-affected second day to establish a 69-run first-innings lead, with the Dolphins having been bowled out for 183 on day one.
In-form wicket-keeper Dane Vilas was again the mainstay of the Cobras innings with a hard-hitting 80 off just 98 balls (11x4, 1x6) as all fell around him. The next best score was captain Justin Ontong’s 38, while left-hander Parnell contributed a vital 31 in a crucial 101-run sixth-wicket partnership that probably won the home side the match in the end.
But on a pitch freshened up by heavy rain on Friday afternoon and overnight, Parnell set about dismantling the Dolphins batting line-up for a second time on Saturday morning.
The 26-year-old got the ball rolling by getting rid of Dolphins openers Imraan Khan and Sarel Erwee in his first two overs, and Proteas Test bowlers Vernon Philander (1/12) and Dane Piedt (2/37) continued the good work by claiming the scalps of the two highest-scoring batsmen, Vaughn van Jaarsveld (29) and Senuran Muthusamy (34).
In between, newcomer Brendan Young (2/15) broke the back of the middle-order when he had Dolphins wicket-keeper Daryn Smit caught behind by Vilas for six, while Sibonelo Makhanya was caught by Piedt off Young.
Parnell returned to mop up the tail with another three sticks to end with a match haul of 12/105 in 29 overs, going well past his previous best of 8/102.
The Cobras had little trouble in knocking off the 71-run target for victory, losing the wicket of Simon Khomari for two. But stalwart left-handers Andrew Puttick (33 not out) and Stiaan van Zyl (37 not out) took their team over the line.
Coach Paul Adams will be delighted with the outcome after a nightmare Sunfoil Series campaign, which saw them in second-last position on the log with two rounds left before the Dolphins match.
The Cobras picked up 17.04 points, and the Dolphins 5.66, which sees the Cape side leapfrog their opponents into fourth place before the final game of the season against the Titans, which starts in Paarl next week Thursday.