This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers.
STIAAN van Zyl’s second hundred in as many matches took the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras to the top of the Sunfoil Series standings after a second round of matches that brought three weather-affected draws.
Van Zyl followed up the 167 not out that he scored against the Sunfoil Dolphins last week by hitting 164 against The Unlimited Titans, who still managed to take slightly more away from the drawn match at Sahara Willowmoore Park.
The Titans earned 9.34 points from the game for the 491 for seven they scored and the seven wickets they claimed, while the Cobras came away with 9.2 points after finishing on 410 for seven as a stalemate was agreed once the Cobras innings had reached the 100-over mark.
That was enough to lift the Cobras 0.05 points above the bizhub Highveld Lions, who took 9.09 points from their game against the Chevrolet Warriors at Senwes Park.
The third match had seen the Dolphins and the Chevrolet Knights lose their first day to rain in Pietermaritzburg, and they also lost the fourth when no play was possible on Sunday.
The Dolphins took 5.1 points away after scoring 366 for six declared in the only innings of the match, while the Knights earned two points.
Along with Stephen Cook, Van Zyl continues to knock on the door of the national team after another hugely impressive innings.
The left-hander began the day on three not out with the Cobras on 73 for two, but shared a strong stand with Andrew Puttick and then put on 176 with skipper Justin Ontong (73).
David Wiese was the pick of the Titans bowlers with figures of 3 for 77, which included the wicket of Van Zyl with the second new ball, while Shaun von Berg followed up his hundred in the Titans innings by taking 3 for 125 from 30 overs.
Going into Sunday’s play, the Lions were the only team with a chance of forcing a victory, and they were unable to get anywhere close.
They lost Alviro Petersen for 138 in the sixth over of the day, while Dominic Hendricks missed out on a century when he was caught behind for 91 off the bowling of Simon Harmer.
Neil McKenzie made a brisk 50 and Temba Bavuma scored 44 as the Lions set the Warriors 360 to win, but the captains shook hands on a draw after 31.2 overs of the visitors’ innings after they had reached 122 for three.
With the Warriors taking 7.12 points from the game, the Titans moved into third place - 14.53 points behind the second-placed Lions and 0.46 ahead of the fourth-placed Warriors.
