Cape Cobras finally won a match in 2016/17 after an outstanding seven overs of spin from George Linde and Nkululeko Serame bowled them to a nervous 12-run win over the Warriors in their T20 Challenge match in Cape Town on Friday.
Slow left-armer Linde claimed a splendid 3/23 in four overs, while rookie off-break bowler
Serame enjoyed a memorable Newlands franchise debut with 2/19 in three overs as the visitors were restricted to 151/8 in pursuit of 164.
Rory Kleinveldt played an equally important role with his 2/16 in four overs with his and Linde’s wickets causing all the early mayhem to the Warriors’ line up after they had themselves done a decent job with the ball.
The men from the Eastern Cape had won the toss and fielded first, with only two batsmen really troubling them.
Proteas all-rounder Wayne Parnell made a successful return from injury by hitting a steady 61 (51 balls, 8 fours), while West Indies superstar Kieron Pollard, the captain on the night, blitzed 50 (27 balls, 2 fours, 4 sixes).
Andrew Birch led a solid bowling display with 3/28 as the Cobras were prevented from really taking the game away from the Warriors.
But the problem then came when early wickets fell as the visitors were reduced to 58/5.
Colin Ackermann hit 60 (41 balls, 3 fours, 3 sixes) to keep the home team anxious until he eventually fell with 14 balls to spare, allowing the Capetonians to win for the first time in eight matches this term – five Sunfoil Series matches and three 20-over outings.
– African News Agency (ANA)
