Lions rookies too good for Cobras

bizhub Highveld Lions rookies, Sean Jamison and Dale Deeb, claimed four wickets apiece to consign the Nashua Cape Cobras to a swift defeat on the final day of their Sunfoil Series match at Senwes Park on Sunday January 11.

The Lions needed just a session and a half to claim the last nine Cobras wickets and wrap up the points on the final day, as the reigning champions were bowled out for just 140 in their second innings to lose by an innings and 35 runs.

While the Lions were always favourites to emerge victorious, after the Cobras went into the final day trailing by 123 runs with nine wickets in hand, the scale of the result exceeded expectations and has put another dent in the Cobras’ efforts to retain the trophy that they have lifted for the past two seasons.

The Cobras took just five points from the game, leaving them without a win from their first three matches and bottom of the table with 14.64 points.

The Lions, by contrast, opened up a considerable lead at the top of the table, as their 17.94 points took their overall tally to 61.4 from four games – more than 15 points clear of the second-placed Titans.

It took less than three overs for Deeb to strike on day five as he removed Keegan Petersen for 23 and the other overnight batsman, Omphile Ramela, was caught behind off the bowling of Pumelela Matshikwe (2/26) for a top score of 32 half an hour later.

The rest of the Cobras innings was more or less a procession, with Deeb picking up the in-form Dane Vilas before Jamison ran through the lower order.

Deeb ended with the sparkling figures of 4/40, while Jamison took 4/53 in the second innings to finish with match figures of 8/119 on debut.