Cape Town - An 85-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Stiaan van Zyl and Aviwe Mgijima ensured that the Cape Cobras stayed in the game on day two of their Sunfoil Series clash against the Knights.
Proteas Test discard Van Zyl, who has missed out on selection for the national team’s three-match series against Australia next month, proved a point to the selectors with a gritty innings of 83 in over three hours at the crease to keep the Cobras afloat on Wednesday at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein.
Left-hander Van Zyl hit 11 boundaries in a 123-ball knock that helped the Cobras to push on beyond the 200 mark after they were 96/4 at one stage.
The Cape side started the day on 22/0 and openers Omphile Ramela and Matthew Kleinveldt got their team past 50 before Duanne Olivier struck and trapped Ramela lbw for 14.
Kleinveldt was in good touch and looked well on his way to a half-century before falling to Olivier for 47 off 59 balls (10x4).
But then controversy hit the Cobras when No 4 Zubayr Hamza was given out “handled the ball” for just 10, and Paul Adams’ team were suddenly three down for 80 runs in reply to the Knights’ first innings total of 342.
Worse was to follow as classy young all-rounder Jason Smith was caught behind off Mbulelo Budaza for five, and that brought Mgijima to the wicket. The right-hander occupied the crease and wore down the Knights bowlers with Van Zyl, and combined for nearly two-and-a-half hours when the left-hander found Robin Peterson off Budaza (4/45 off 12 overs).
The Cobras lower-order didn’t offer much resistance, though, and the visitors were dismissed for 241 for a first-innings deficit of 101.
The Cape side made a great start to the second innings, grabbing two wickets for just 14 runs as Beuran Hendricks got rid of Michael Erlank (1) and Dane Paterson bowled Letlotlo Sesele (13).
But the big wicket was Knights captain Theunis de Bruyn, and it was Paterson who made the vital breakthrough as the right-hander was caught by Dane Piedt for 16. There wasn’t any further damage as the home side ended the day on 69/3, for a lead of 170.
Adams will hope that his bowlers can keep the target down to below 300 for the Cape side to have any chance of victory.