Knights: 140/7 (De Bruyn 45, Paterson 2/24, Kleinveldt 2/33)
Cape Cobras: 144/6 (Ontong 40, Levi 36, Du Preez 2/28)
Cape Cobras won by four wickets.
Paarl: “Do we have a curse on us or something?” asked Cape Cobras coach Paul Adams at Boland Park yesterday. Adams couldn’t contain his frustrations any longer despite his team keeping their T20 Challenge defence on track with a four-wicket victory over the Knights.
Adams was bemoaning the fact that yet another two of his star players sustained severe injuries while fielding yesterday. Kieron Pollard twisted his knee in the outfield when trying to change direction in the outfield, while Wayne Parnell hurt his foot when Rilee Rossouw thumped a full toss straight back onto this left foot.
The pair were forced to leave the field for the remainder of the Knights innings, but showed great courage to come out to bat and close out the match for the home side. Both all-rounders were visibly limping while at the crease which severely limited their strokeplay and running between the wickets.
Pollard gets paid the big money at the Cobras and he certainly earned every cent of his salary at Paarl. Batting almost on one leg, he still managed to swat some crucial boundaries. On one occasion the big West Indian fell to the ground in a heap and shouted out in excruciating pain, but stumbled to his feet moments later to take on the challenge again.
The drama was increased when a power outage at the stadium saw the scoreboard shut down leading to confusion all around Boland Park. With the spectators unaware of the Cobras situation, they cheered every boundary Pollard struck with greater gusto and broke out in raucous applause when the Trinidadian struck Shadley van Schalkwyk through midwicket to take the Cobras over the line with three balls remaining.
The Cobras had once again been given their customary fast start through Richard Levi. The burly opener powered to 36 off 23 balls (5x4, 1x6) before being caught at mid-on by Malusi Siboto off Dillon du Preez’s bowling. Levi had lost opening partner Andrew Puttick a few overs earlier which brought captain Justin Ontong to the crease.
Ontong was occupying the No 3 position after the Cobras had dropped the out-of-form Omphile Ramela. The skipper kept the Cobras innings together with a responsible 40 off 42 balls, but could not find his second gear before being caught behind off Van Schalkwyk.
Adams will take some consolation from the fact that his bowling unit, even with Parnell not being able to return at the backend of the innings through his injury, were still able to contain the Knights’ batting line-up.
Dane Paterson was particularly good with both the new ball and during the death overs, picking up the crucial wickets of Andre Russell and Werner Coetsee.
Russell had threatened to ruin the early good work done by the Cobras bowlers with a quickfire 27 off 20 balls (1x4, 2x6), but tried one big shot too many against the right-arm seamer.
The Cobras have a week to prepare for their next game and Adams will hope his physiotherapist Shane Jabaar can work his magic on both Pollard and Parnell ahead of next Sunday’s clash against the Highveld Lions at the Wanderers. The duo will undergo x-rays today to ascertain the extent of the injuries. - Cape Times