PAARL – Cobras captain Dane Piedt toiled for 37 overs to complete his 18th five-wicket haul of his career, but could not prevent the Highveld Lions stretching their overall lead to 432 at lunch on Day 3 at Boland Park.
Piet (5/99) bowled unchanged throughout the entire Lions innings in a marathon spell from the Nederburgh End. That was all the home team had to smile about as Nicky van der Bergh and the Lions tail frustrated the competition leaders.
Van der Bergh mixed defence and aggression to move to 83 off 141 balls (14x4) before he hit the ball straight back at Piedt. The Lions wicket-keeper had good support from Rassie van der Dussen (41). The right-hander returned to the crease after being stung by a bee yesterday. He showed no ill-effects, moving confidently to 41 off 67 balls.
WICKET & LUNCH | Jason Smith wraps up the @LionsCricketSA innings, as they end on 233 all out after 74.4 overs.
Dane Piedt’s (5/99) five-wicket haul led the charge for the home side as they now require a mammoth 433 runs to claim victory. #COBvLIO #4DaySeries pic.twitter.com/Me3wzR9PVd
— COBRAS CRICKET (@CobrasCricket) November 7, 2018
There were further contributions from Nono Pongolo (17) and last-man Nandre Burger (13*) before the visitors were eventually dismissed for 233. Tladi Bokoko offered Piedt solid support to finish with 3/40.
The Cobras will have to survive five sessions to eke out a draw in this match or surpass the franchise fourth innings record chase of 358/5 to complete a miraculous victory.