Thrilling win for Warriors

Published Nov 17, 2012

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East London -

Some excellent pace bowling by Basheer Walters, who took 3-23, and Andrew Birch, who grabbed 3-42, broke through any resistance from the middle and lower order of the Cape Cobras, to give the Warriors their first one-day winof the season by 76 runs at Buffalo Park on Friday,

The Cobras, after opener Richard Levi had smashed his way to an aggressive 83 off 77 balls with 11 fours and a six, lost their way and their final six wickets fell for just 28 runs and they were dismissed for 186 chasing a target of 263.

Levi, with Mohammed Vallie, anchored the innings, and among his most memorable shots was a driven six off old warhorse Makhaya Ntini, whose two overs cost 14 before he was removed from the firing line.

The Cobras appeared to be cruising to victory but the arrival of Walters at the bowling crease changed matters. He came on at 140

for four wickets and bowled with much aggression, getting lift off the pitch and bowling extremely fast.

He beat Justin Kemp for pace, then trapped trapped Vallie for 30 in the same over, before Johann Louw was caught behind by Warriors skipper Davy Jacobs for three to have the visitors teetering at 176 for nine wickets.

A few belligerent shots by Charl Langeveldt held up matters for a few minutes but there was no stopping a home victory for the Eastern Cape franchise.

Earlier the Warriors had a their hard-hitting allrounder , Wayne Parnell to thank for propelling them to the very useful total of 262 for eight wickets, as at the end of the 49th over, the Warriors had only accumulated 236 for eight.

But the last over was plundered to the tune of 26 runs, with the hapless medium-pacer Beuran Hendricks put to the sword by Parnell.

There was a leg bye, two wides, one of which whistled past the ‘keeper to the boundary and one from which the batsmen, Parnell and Andrew Birch, scrambled a single,, and then Parnell smashed Hendricks for two consecutive sixes over the mid-wicket boundary and took a two before holing out to Richard Levi on the long-on boundary.

The batsmen crossed and Birch swiped Henricks for a four to end the innings.

Michael Price with a sedate 55 off 97 balls and Davy Jacobs, with 46 off 46 balls, supported well but there were times when the batsmen simply went through the motions and at others it seemed like a three or four-day match instead of a limited-overs game.

The only real fireworks came in the final five or six overs with Parnell at the crease. - Sapa

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