Felix Austin
| cricket20
The Nashua Cape Cobras started their defense of the Standard Bank Pro20 title with a crushing 42 run victory over the bizhub Highveld Lions at Newlands.
The hosts set the Lions an imposing total of 179 thanks to a brilliant 53 from Herschelle Gibbs and later in the innings after a middle order collapse Richard Levi punished some poor bowling to score a quick fire 43 from just 20 balls.
The Lions got out to a good start despite losing Jonathan Vandiar (12) in the second over as Neil McKenzie and Martin van Jaarsveld enjoyed a partnership of 62 runs before van Jaarsveld was bowled by Justin Ontong for 39.
The lose of van Jaarsveld left the Lions 82-2 but it soon became 84-3 when McKenzie was bowled by Ontong for 27.
The lose of these two key wickets signaled a middle order collapse with only Dane Villas offering any sort of resistant with 32 before he was caught by Andrew Puttick of the bowling of Robin Peterson to leave the Lions 121-5.
Rory Kleinveldt picked up a further two wickets to rip through the Lions lower order to give the Cobras the easy victory.
|
