Half-centuries by Pieter and Janneman Malan followed a fighting bowling display by the Cape Cobras as they hit back on the second day of their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter against the Warriors in Port Elizabeth on Thursday.
Having begun day two behind in the game, they hit back well through three wickets each from Mthiwekhaya Nabe (3/43) and Dane Piedt (3/56) to dismiss the hosts for 252 at St George’s Park.
This after the Eastern Cape franchise had started the day on 105/1 in reply to 266, with the Malans then helping the visiting side reach stumps on 148/1 – a lead of 162 at the midway point of the game.
But the comeback began with the bowlers as seamer Nabe removed Colin Ackermann (9) in the second over of play, before taking out Yaseen Vallie (0) two overs later.
Spinner Piedt accounted for top-scorer Eddie Moore for 75 (133 balls, 12x4), leaving he Warriors in a mess on 143/4.
An 86-run stand between Jon-Jon Smuts (63 off 124 balls, 11x4) and Sinethemba Qeshile (41) handed control back to the Warriors as they moved to within 37 runs of the Cobras with five wickets still in hand.
However, two run-outs and the bowling of Piedt and Dane Paterson (2/40) left the game evenly balanced at that stage.
END OF INNINGS | Sipamla is run out as the 1st innings comes to an end. A fantastic performance from our bowlers today as they restrict @WarriorsCrickEC to 252 all out and take a 14-run lead into the 2nd innings
Nabe 3/43, Piedt 3/56, Paterson 2/40
Moore 75, Smuts 63 #WARvCOB pic.twitter.com/9JEAoiLL9P
— COBRAS CRICKET (@CobrasCricket) December 20, 2018
But the Malans, led by run-machine Pieter – who made his sixth 50-plus score this season on his way to 61 (102 balls, 7x4) – shifted the course of the game.
Even though the leading run-scorer of the competition did eventually fall, Janneman continued his charge and was unbeaten on 77 (130 balls, 11x4) at stumps.
With him was the out-of-form Hashim Amla on eight off 27 balls, who will be hoping to get some runs under his belt ahead of the Test series against Pakistan starting next week.