Cape Cobras: 154 all out (Ontong 38, Van Schalkwyk 4/40, Olivier 4/43)
Knights: 137/6 (Erlank 32, Smith 2/17, Simmonds 2/42)
Cape Town – Cape Cobras debutant Kyle Simmonds helped drag the home team back into the contest with an impressive spell of slow left-arm spin bowling on a day when 16 wickets fell here at Boland Park.
Simmonds, 23, claimed 2/42 with crucial breakthroughs on the stroke of tea time and stumps that allowed the Cobras to head into the second day with a great deal more optimism than earlier in the day when the batsmen had fluffed their lines.
Knights opening bowler Duanne Olivier confirmed his status as the country’s premier domestic fast bowler by stretching his lead at top of the Sunfoil Series wicket-takers list to 43 scalps after finishing with figures of 4/43. The Proteas new cap’s demolition of the tail played a large role in the Cobras being dismissed for just 154 in only 52.2 overs at Boland Park.
But it was not just Olivier that saw the Cobras’ recent momentum stalled. Former Capetonian Shadley van Schalkwyk, who too bagged 4/40, offered significant support.
In fact, Van Schalkwyk was actually the chief-destroyer for the Knights as the medium-pacer tore the heart out the Cobras middle-order. Opener Andrew Puttick was Van Schalkwyk’s first victim when the left-hander was trapped lbw before Jason Smith, Dane Vilas and Justin Ontong were all dismissed.
Ontong, who was fresh off a hundred in the last round against the Titans, was certainly the big wicket as he looked set on 38 again before edging behind to wicket-keeper Rudi Second. With the Cobras reeling at 110/6, Olivier ensured the Cobras tail would not overly wag by clean bowling Tshepo Moreki and Dane Paterson for ducks after Cobras captain Dane Piedt (20) and Aviwe Mgijima (23) momentarily halted the collapse with a 32-run stand for the seventh wicket.
The Cobras knew they needed to start well with the ball after the batting collapse, but had to wait until the eighth over for the initial breakthrough when Simmonds had Luthando Mnyanda (23) caught by Omphile Ramela at short leg.
On a surface where no batsmen looked comfortable all day the wickets continued to fall at regular intervals with all-rounder Smith once again showing his value to the Cobras with a couple of wickets before Paterson, Piedt and Simmonds all picked one further wicket apiece.
Considering the pace at which the game is moving it is unlikely that it will last all four days here in Paarl, but the Cobras will know they will need to make early breakthroughs once again on Friday morning to restrict the Knights from taking any sort of a lead that could be vital in the final outcome.