The Cape Cobras were unable to capitalise on a great start as Khaya Zondo struck a sparkling century for the Dolphins in the Sunfoil Series in Paarl on Thursday.
It looked like the Cobras’ luck was finally changing early on day one as pace spearhead Dane Paterson rocked the KZN visitors with two wickets in his first three overs that saw the Dolphins slump to 8/2 in the fifth.
Paterson bowled left-handed opener Imraan Khan for two, and followed it up by getting rid of key figure Daryn Smit lbw for three.
Coach Paul Adams would’ve thought that the under-pressure Cobras’ fortunes had taken a positive turn after losing three out of four games so far, including by an innings to the Titans at Newlands last weekend.
But Divan van Wyk and Vaughn van Jaarsveld knuckled down to produce a vital third-wicket partnership of 83 that took the shine off the new ball and the sting out of the Cobras attack at Boland Park.
Paterson, though, came back in the afternoon and made another breakthrough, trapping Van Wyk lbw for 38, and that was the catalyst for two further wickets in quick succession.
Off-spinner Dane Piedt struck when Van Jaarsveld – having reached his half-century – found Jason Smith in the field to be out for a well-played 56 off 112 balls (8x4), and Paterson got his fourth of the day when he dismissed Senuran Muthusamy lbw for a duck.
Suddenly the Dolphins were on 115/5 and the Cobras were well on top, but one-time Proteas limited-overs squad member Zondo decided to take on the bowlers and it paid off.
The 26-year-old reached his seventh first-class hundred off 162 balls (17x4), and had an able partner in captain Morné van Wyk to stop the rot at the other end.
The normally hard-hitting Van Wyk displayed great patience in compiling an unbeaten 37 off 122 balls, while Zondo ended the day on 139 not out from 221 deliveries (23x4).
Their sixth-wicket stand of 170 halted the Cobras’ charge, with even Paterson (4/46 in 19 overs) not making any inroads.
Former SA Under-19 all-rounder Dayyaan Galiem sent down 16 overs without reward (0/53) and the same applied to Zakhele Qwabe (0/65 in 14) and Smith (0/22 in 12).
With Proteas ODI star Andile Phehlukwayo and the robust Robbie Frylinck still to come, the Dolphins will look to bat well into day two. But the Cobras will hope that Paterson can get a few more early wickets to wrap up the lower-order, and then their new-look batting line-up will have to put the numbers on the board.
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Independent Media