Johannesburg - The One-day Cup final between the Highveld Lions and the Cape Cobras was brought to an abrupt conclusion when a typical Highveld storm hit the Wanderers stadium.
All efforts were made to get the field playable but to no avail. After three hours 26 minutes, with no further play possible the Umpires had no alternative but to call the match off.
As there was a No Result, the match will be replayed as a 50-over game at 10 am on Saturday, which had been set aside for such an eventuality. When the storm hit, the Cobras were in trouble on 64 for four after 16.2 overs, with Yaseen Valliie on 21 and Justin Ontong on 12.
The Cobras innings started off disastrously with openers Andrew Puttick and Richard Levi back in the hut with only 22 runs on the board. Puttick was brilliantly caught by Alviro Petersen at second-slip, diving to his right to take a one-handed catch.
Levi was out in a similar fashion caught by Neil McKenzie at first-slip, both batsman falling to quickie Hardus Viljoen.
After a rain delay of 45 minutes, the players were back on the Park, but two balls later Dane Vilas retraced his steps back to the dressing room, trapped in front by Viljoen.
Stiaan van Zyl became the fast bowler's fourth victim, chasing a ball well outside his off-stump only to edge it to wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock and the visitors were in trouble, four wickets down for a mere 36 runs.
Viljoen's figures, 7-1-37-4. Vallie and Cobras captain Ontong instigated a recovery with an unbeaten fifth-wicket partnership of 28 runs, before the heavens opened for the second and final time. - Sapa