CAPE TOWN – Openers are certainly going to start lining up to play at Newlands pretty soon after Jon-Jon Smuts smashed the Momentum One-Day Cup ground record with a swashbuckling 173 not out to steer the Warriors to a 90-run bonus-point victory over the Cape Cobras on Sunday.
Smuts’ record-breaking feat (off 164 balls, 9x4, 8x6) followed Henry Davids’ 163 – the previous highest score at the hallowed old ground – and Jonathan Vandiar’s 153, which was struck here for the Titans just last week.
The Warriors posted an imposing 305/6 off their 50 overs, and the Cobras were bowled out for just 215 in 37.3 overs
Richard Levi continued the merry-making by the openers on Sunday, but his 106 (70 balls, 14x3, 3x6) was not enough to rescue the Cobras.
Levi’s innings was interrupted, though, on 94 – which had been scored off just 53 deliveries – when he was forced to leave the field with a groin injury.
It was a critical moment in the game, for the powerful right-hander had set up the Cobras chase with a blistering start.
However, during the period Levi was off the field getting treatment, the Cobras slipped from 120/2 to 154/5 – 34 runs for the loss of three wickets – and saw skipper Dane Piedt depart a few overs later to leave the home side deep in the quagmire.
At 167/6, it was unrealistic to expect a hobbling Levi to bludgeon the ball like he did previously and his and the Cobras’ fates were sealed during a mix-up with Rory Kleinveldt.
After rebounding with a strong victory on Friday evening in Potchefstroom, the Cobras would have loved to continue the winning momentum at home, but Smuts and opening partner Gihahn Cloete ensured it was not to be.
The Warriors opening pair put on 119 to lay the perfect platform before Highveld Lions loan import Eddie Leie struck when he clean-bowled Cloete for 70 (75 balls, 11x4).
Leie was quite impressive throughout as the leg-spinner kept the Warriors in check by claiming further three wickets to finish with 4/56.
Congratulations to Jon-Jon Smuts on achieving his 5th List A century. #warriorsway https://t.co/nrkvHrpdZm
— Warriors Cricket EC (@WarriorsCrickEC) March 12, 2017
However, Leie had no recipe to foil Smuts as the Warriors skipper continued to blaze away all around the wicket.
Having a set batsman at the crease during the final 10 overs is always crucial for the batting team, and so it proved again on Sunday.
The Warriors added 102 during this period, with the Cobras seam bowlers missing their lines and lengths horribly.
In fact, the game plans did not much make sense at all, with experienced bowlers like Dane Paterson once again unable to execute under pressure.
The new Proteas cap may have responded with a four-wicket haul on Friday after his mid-week mauling at Boland Park, but he was found wanting again two days later.
Paterson could not find his yorker length and simply offered Smuts the opportunity to free his arms by swinging strongly over the leg-side boundary.
The 47th over was a particularly bad one as 22 runs were conceded by the Cobras, which allowed the Warriors to take real impetus into the lunch break. Paterson conceded 83 runs in his nine overs.
Ultimately, the Cobras will now have to depend on the generosity of other teams if they harbour any further ambitions of progressing in the tournament.