The Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras got their "MiWay T20 Challenge" title defence off to a perfect start when they beat the Chevrolet Warriors by 10 runs in their opening match at Axxess St. George's on Wednesday evening.
The victory was set up by the opening partnership of 99 between MiWay Master Blaster Stiaan van Zyl and his captain, Andrew Puttick. Van Zyl made a career best 58 off 41 balls with 2 fours and 4 sixes.
Puttick provided excellent support for Van Zyl with his innings of 55 off 52 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes.
The Cobras finished on 157/5 and then managed to restrict the Warriors to 145/7 in their reply.
Most of the Warriors' batsmen got good starts but Kelly Smuts' 26 turned out to be the top score and it was the Cobras' spinners who called the tune assisted by Mark Boucher who made three stumpings off three different bowlers!
The three spinners took five wickets between them at a combined cost of 68 runs in 9 overs.
Leg spinner Alastair Gray finished with two for 25 in three overs while debutant Yaseen Vallie took 2/28 in 4 overs.
Makhaya Ntini won the MiWay Master Blaster bowling award for his figures of 2/19 in four overs.
