Category Uncategorized

Chris Green, making a rare appearance for his state, picked up four wickets

AAP17-Nov-2022Daniel Hughes smacked yet another century before spinner Chris Green weaved his magic with the ball to lead New South Wales to a crushing 160-run win over Tasmania in the one-day clash at Blundstone Arena.Just days after missing a Sheffield Shield clash due to Covid-19, Hughes scored 101 off 114 balls as the visitors reached 8 for 300 after being sent in to bat.In reply, Tasmania were skittled for 140 in 28.1 overs, with Matthew Wade (42 off 49 balls) the only home batter to post a score of any substance. Green starred with the ball, finishing with figures of 4 for 20 off nine overs.NSW entered the match yet to taste victory this season in either the one-day competition or the Sheffield Shield.But the 207-run opening stand between Hughes and Kurtis Patterson (92) put the Blues on track to end the rut. Hughes has now posted three one-day centuries this season and he can consider himself unlucky to be overlooked for Australian selection following Aaron Finch’s retirement.Thursday’s innings took his average to 67.8 for the past four seasons with only Shaun Marsh having more one-day domestic centuries – 10 to Hughes’s nine – of current players.The left-hander was strong square of the wicket, cutting, pulling and pushing off the back foot whenever Tasmania dropped short.Sitting pretty at 0 for 194 after 32 overs, the runs dried up slightly for NSW after Patterson picked out the man on the legside boundary while trying to pull Tom Rogers.It kickstarted a collapse of 5 for 35 in the next six overs as Rogers, Nathan Ellis and Tom Andrew pulled back the Blues. Jason Sangha and Baxter Holt were the only remaining batters to pass 20, as NSW took just 63 runs from the last 10 overs.Tasmania’s run chase started poorly with the home side crashing to 3 for 35. Wade sent a scare through the camp when he was struck on the side of the helmet by a Liam Hatcher bouncer. The veteran had raced to 21 off just 11 balls but struggled for fluency after being hit.Wade even fell to the ground later that over while evading another Hatcher bouncer and he eventually holed out 10 overs later in the search for quick runs.The bonus-point win lifted NSW (five points) off the bottom of the ladder, but they are still five points adrift of the third-placed Tasmania (10 points).

Kent fast bowler’s slower than expected recovery from knee surgery prompts decision

Matt Roller20-Jul-2021Tim Groenewald has called time on a 15-year professional career by announcing that he will retire from professional cricket with immediate effect.Groenewald, 37, had surgery on his knee in April and said that despite “amazing support” from Kent’s medical staff, his recovery has not been sufficient for him to resume his playing career.Born in South Africa – and educated at the Maritzburg College in Natal, the same school as Kevin Pietersen – Groenewald juggled his early county career with winters back home but he made a breakthrough in 2006, making debuts for Warwickshire in all three formats, and played for the club as a non-overseas player thanks to his English mother.He left for Derbyshire at the end of the 2008 season where he quickly became an integral part of their bowling attack across formats, and took 42 wickets in their promotion season in 2012. He led the attack in Division One but turned down the opportunity to extend his contract and joined Somerset on loan in 2014 as a precursor to a permanent move.He became a fan favourite at Taunton, not only for his whole-hearted efforts with the ball but also for his knack of playing match-winning innings with the bat, dragging them to famous one-wicket wins against Surrey in the Championship and Gloucestershire in the Royal London Cup in 2016, with Jack Leach and Jamie Overton for company respectively.Groenewald joined Kent on a permanent deal ahead of the 2020 season and took seven wickets in his nine appearances for the club. Paul Downton, their managing director, confirmed that he would stay with the club in a coaching capacity until the end of the season.”I feel privileged to have played professional cricket for 16 years,” Groenewald said. “I will always be extremely grateful to the clubs I’ve represented and the opportunities they have afforded me. I’ve made some lifelong friends and memories along the way and will cherish those forever.”Groenewald retires with 625 career wickets, 403 of which came in first-class cricket at an average of 29.53, with 16 five-wicket hauls. While England Lions selection eluded him, he was part of the North v South series in the UAE in early 2017 after earning a spot through his performances in the Royal London Cup.

He is still enjoying his cricket and expects Bangladesh to provide tough competition to Pakistan in the upcoming series

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jan-2020Pakistan allrounder Shoaib Malik insists he is not getting ahead of himself following his call-up for the series against Bangladesh, and will “not set any long-term goals”. Most notably, that meant he wouldn’t commit to saying whether he aimed to be part of Pakistan’s World T20 squad, saying that was “too far out”.”I am not thinking about the World Cup; my selection is for the Bangladesh series and I will try to avail whatever opportunity I get,” he told reporters in Lahore. “The World Cup is too far out, and I don’t set long term goals. Whatever’s in my hand I will try. There are lots of youngsters in the team who should be groomed and that is the priority. I also don’t want to make a statement that I will retire from T20 cricket after the World Cup. When the time comes, I will see how things are going.”Malik’s remarks on his aspirations for the World T20 stand in stark contrast to his fellow senior player Mohammad Hafeez’s, who was also called up by chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq for this series. The day after his inclusion in the side, he declared the World T20 would mark his retirement from all international cricket, suggesting playing in that event is very much front and centre among his goals.Malik should be more familiar with the visiting Bangladesh side than most. Just last week, he was part of the Rajshahi Royals side that triumphed in the Bangladesh Premier League final in Dhaka. He ranked fourth on the run charts across the entire competition, racking up 455 averaging just under 38. In addition, he shed light on some of the conversations he had had with players in Bangladesh, and his attempts to assuage any concerns players might have about touring Pakistan.”Players do ask us about how things are in Pakistan when we go out and play in different leagues. The sort of security you get in Pakistan, you don’t get anywhere else. Some Bangladesh players also inquired about security, and I told them that they should come and have a look at it themselves. Only one player [Mushfiqur] is not coming because of personal reasons. I just want to say to him ‘please do come next time and see for yourself’. When the Bangladesh team comes and sees the atmosphere here, I think they will also convince others who aren’t coming right now to come for the next leg.”As for the cricket, though, he expects nothing less than the sternest of challenges.”Bangladesh are bringing a strong team. Their system has become stronger over the years. A well-balanced side is coming. But if you look at our T20 team, we have lots of players who have plenty of experience. Babar Azam is highly thought of around the world; when I go play in other leagues, they all praise him. When other players also get chances on a consistent basis, I feel sure they will also perform, too.”But for Pakistan’s oldest serving cricketer – Malik made his international debut in 1999 – being in this side at all defies expectations. After a torrid World Cup campaign he was dropped halfway through, he lost his central contract, and the possibility he had played his last game for Pakistan was very real. Now, back in the side and with a chance to show his worth as a stabilising influence in a team that has begun to slide, Malik has a simple explanation for why he’s sticking around.”I’m still enjoying my cricket,” he said.

The preparations in the lead-up to the Durban Test and their consequent performance there has given his side a lift, says Sri Lanak’s captain

Andrew Fidel Fernando20-Feb-2019Bounce. It made rubble out of Sri Lanka’s top order in Australia. It was expected to make rubble out of them again, in South Africa.But somehow, after having mustered only scores of 144, 139, 215 and 149 in Brisbane and Canberra, Sri Lanka got themselves to a score of over 300 for the first time in six Tests in Durban. It took a miraculous Kusal Perera innings to get them anywhere near that total, of course, but it has made the batting order a little more comfortable against the steepling ball. That’s according to captain Dimuth Karunaratne.Of the men in this top order, Karunaratne would know better than most the dangers the bouncer presents, both he and Kusal Perera having had to leave the field after being struck in the helmet in Canberra. But he thinks Sri Lanka’s experiences in Australia have helped them refine their batting strategies against the short ball. Or at least he hopes they have.”Some of us can hit the bouncers really well; some of us can’t. So if you can’t, don’t think twice – just leave it. It’s that’s simple,” Karunaratne said. “The boys are practicing really hard in the nets. The coaching staff knew what kind of bowling attack we will face here, so the preparation was really good in those seven days before the Durban Test. That’s the main reason the boys did really well there.”If we see the Australian tour, they bowled a lot of bouncers, and when they saw we were uncomfortable, they kept doing it. Here, we played the bouncer more comfortably, so they don’t want to bowl the bouncer so much. They want to bowl good areas to get wickets.”The tracks Sri Lanka are playing on South Africa are also not quite as quick as those in Australia, Karunaratne said. The Gabba, where they played their first Test under lights in Australia, has a global reputation for being one of the quickest and bounciest around. Kingsmead and St. George’s Park, meanwhile, are perhaps the two slowest of the South African venues.”We had a tough two games in Australia on fast and bouncy wickets. We consistently got pitches where bowlers were bowling 150kph. But I told my teammates that here it’s much easier than in Australia.”You have to get better, from that experience. You have to keep your head clear and play positively. I think we saw that in the last game. This Port Elizabeth pitch is a pretty good wicket compared to the others, like Johannesburg, which is a fast and bouncy. We have a good batting wicket here.”Karunaratne also expressed support for coach Chandika Hathurusingha on the eve of the secod match. Following the victory at Kingsmead, a viral video had emerged of Kusal Perera and Suranga Lakmal giving dressing room speeches that ostensibly endorsed the coaching of Hathurusingha.With there being strong rumours that the board was moving to sack Hathurusingha from his position before that Kingsmead Test, the coach seems to have at least some support from some players.”We have to support each other. The coach also did a really good job,” Karunaratne said. “All the time, he’s trying to give something to the players. That’s why the players also want to give something back as well.”As a captain I like to see everyone in the dressing room helping each other to get better and better. We have to support the coach as well, and the coach has to realise what our gameplan is. That communication will be really good for Sri Lankan cricket.”

There were half-centuries for Sean Dickson, Darren Stevens and Wayne Parnell but Jofra Archer’s 7 for 67 was the star turn as Sussex dismissed Kent for 304 at Hove

Vithushan Ehantharajah at Hove14-Apr-2017
ScorecardDaniel Bell-Drummond lost his middle stump attempting to leave against Jofra Archer•Getty Images

It is just a day into Sussex’s Championship campaign and, if the supporters are to be believed, player of the year, young player of the year and bowling performance of the year have been wrapped up. Jofra Archer, with figures of 7 for 67 – his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket – bowled with the skill beyond his 22 years and seven matches.On a surface that rewarded patience from both sides, he outbowled the world-class Vernon Philander (who went wicketless) and created havoc at will. Last month, he set himself a target of 70 wickets across all three formats in 2017. He’s already a tenth of the way there. “Just 63 more to go,” he said, with all the chutzpah of a man ready to tick them off in good time.His rise has been a remarkable one. But it is a rise that fans of Sussex and cricket should cherish. Because, at the beginning of 2016, aged 20, Archer was close to retiring from the game. Two years after a stress fracture of the back, he was in still experiencing great discomfort. In agony after a handful of overs, he wondered if he could have a career that took more than it gave him. Luckily, for all of us – though maybe not Kent – he kept with it.”It’s been really frustrating, to be honest. In 2014, I played two games in the Sussex twos and I did really well. Then my back just gave out. The most frustrating thing was that CJ [Chris Jordan] kept telling me that if I played five more games, I probably would have gotten a contract.”Over the next two years, his back showed little sign of progress. Then he thought about packing it in. “Honestly, I almost called it quits. It was just too painful. I probably could only bowl one spell in a day. I couldn’t really come back into an attack: my back would stiffen up a lot. Luckily my parents kept pushing me.”A programme of core work in England and Barbados, coupled with regular physiotherapy helped him get stronger and take the strain away from his back. Watching him bowl, you do wonder where the strain comes from. His action is like no other: velvet strides to the crease that shine the grass beneath his feet, before a gather with all the grace of Gene Kelly skipping over a puddle takes him into delivery. Think of the equivalent of the Moonwalk but going forward, and you’re barely halfway there.The first wicket of the day was box office. Daniel Bell-Drummond, confident enough to leave after seeing what Archer had offered him, left a ball that started wide but ended up poleaxing his middle stump. Last season, a similar set-up and finish that saw a Leicestershire batsman lose off middle went viral. This one is likely to do similar numbers. “It’s already all over Twitter at the moment,” he laughed.”It’s my stock ball, really. I try and set batsmen up with the outswinger: it’s not my strongest ball but, I bowl it a couple of times just to let the batsman know that I have it.”It has taken time for him to develop that ball: hard work combined with the need to “trust” his wrist. Jordan, too, overcame similar back and technical issues to get where he is today – an international cricketer currently plying his trade in the IPL – and it is not lazy to wonder if Archer will glide the same path, given how much the former has relied on the latter already.Jordan originally came across Archer around five years ago while he was still spending his winters playing first-class cricket for Barbados. Brisk in the nets and capable if unspectacular with the bat, Archer immediately impressed and Jordan kept tabs on his progression. When he found out that Archer had a British passport through his father, Jordan advised him to seek opportunities in the UK.In 2014, he signed for Middleton Cricket Club as their overseas player, while Jordan managed to wangle him some 2nd XI games. The stress-fracture stopped him bowling but he used the time to bring his batting up to speed, averaging over 50 across 13 club games. It was only in 2015, when he was bowling again, albeit off a short run-up (and still quick), that the county realised just how good he could be.Reluctant to commit to any deal because of the nature of the injury, Sussex encouraged Archer take it easy over the winter to ensure he was fully fit and return to England the following year. Rather than return to Middleton, he emailed Horsham, who have strong ties with Sussex through opening batsman Chris Nash, whose elder brother Mark is involved with the running of the club. Not long after that email was received, Mark fielded a call from former West Indies and Sussex quick Corey Collymore, Archer’s mentor in Barbados, who gave a glowing reference.As it turned out, he only managed a handful of games for Horsham after a four-for in a tour game with Pakistan led to Sussex hogging him for the remainder of 2016. He took 35 wickets in all competitions – 23 in Championship cricket – along with handy runs down the order, including 73 during a 140-run partnership with Jordan against Essex. At the beginning of August, with counties circling for his signature, Sussex gave him an 18-month deal. In December, they reinforced that with a two-year extension.Kent had ambled their way to 152 for 6 in the 58th over – Archer removing Will Gidman and Adam Rouse in consecutive balls – with opener Sean Dickson’s 68 from 179 balls the only score of note. But a dropped catch at first slip off the bowling of Ajmal Shahzad allowed Darren Stevens a life on 6. By the time the new ball came around after 80 overs, Kent had added more than 100, as Stevens and Wayne Parnell freed their arms and liberated the innings. Their partnership was eventually brought to a halt by Shahzad before Archer stepped in to mop up the tail.The loss of Chris Nash under lights – lbw to Matt Coles – perhaps took the edge off for Sussex. Archer, however, is hopeful of a lead. And who are we to disagree?

“Moments are going to get heated,” Vernon Philander has said of the upcoming Test series against Australia

Firdose Moonda in Perth01-Nov-20161:43

Rabada an exciting bowler to watch – Philander

While some of Australia’s former players have cautioned the current crop against too much talk in the upcoming Tests, Vernon Philander warned things won’t always stay genteel from the South African side, especially not when they are up against it.”There’s going to be a time when a partnership will develop and it will require one or two bowlers to put up their hands and get a bit ugly and make things uncomfortable,” Philander said.When those times come, Philander seems ready to put himself at the forefront. “That tests your character, it’s a part of Test cricket and testing your skills – you need to get out there and win that moment for your team. It’s going to be fun.”For Philander, it may also be personal. He is perhaps more highly regarded at home than in Australia, – as was also the case when he toured England – despite his eight-for on debut against Australia in Cape Town in the match in which they were bowled out for 47. The Australians want to see him do that in Australia, just like the English wanted to see him to do it England.Then, he responded by taking seven wickets at Lord’s, including 5 for 30 in the second innings, to win the Test and the mace and signed off with a line that is still repeated in South African circles: “Stats don’t lie,” he said, when asked what he would like to say the English after that day.They don’t, and Philander’s numbers against Australia could do with some improving. In seven Tests against them, Philander has taken 35 wickets at an average of 30.24, much higher than his overall average of 22.09. In the past two series against them – 2012 and 2014 – he has taken only 11 wickets at 51.00.His powers are considered to have waned since he became the fastest bowler in over a century to 100 Test wickets and the injury that kept him out of most of last summer has not helped him restore his reputation. On this tour, Philander has everything to prove but pre-series, he chose to play that down.”It’s very important for me personally and it’s also important for us as a unit,” Philander said. “We’ve got to take 20 wickets and as long as I play my part in taking 20 wickets in a Test match, then I’ll be happy.”His first chance at doing that will be on the surface that could offer the most assistance. The WACA is set to have something in it for the seamers, as the Gabba was expected to four years ago. Then, looks were deceiving and the all-pace attack Philander was part of backfired so he is being cautious about whether South Africa will go guns blazing this time. “We’ve always had three seamers with a spinner and a part-timer and we’re pretty used to that,” he said.But with the pace pack at their disposal – Dale Steyn, fit-again Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada, Kyle Abbott and Philander – it will be difficult to decide which two must sit out. And if they do opt for a four-pronged attack, Philander’s advice to his team-mates is not to get too excited by the surface.”The simpler you keep it, the better it becomes,” he said. “You can get carried away by the pace and bounce but for seamers you need to be ultra-disciplined here.”Control is something Philander has built his game on. He is known for being able to hit the area outside off for over after over, and only move the ball off the seam slightly. That is likely to be his line of attack in this series.It’s not as emphatic as Steyn’s swing or Rabada’s pace and in many ways, it is indicative of the bowler Philander is. He does not get throbbing veins or send the speed gun above 150kph, he does not have much to say about the opposition except that they are the “11 individuals who are the best in Australia at the moment and we’ve to to respect that for what they are,” and he does not have much to say to them either.Unlike Steyn he did not name a target or threaten to sink an entire side. He just mentioned that he is capable of not being a nice guy too, if he has to.”Moments are going to get heated,” he said, “but you as a person have to be stay calm and collected.”

Shane Watson believes he made the right decision to prolong his international career following the homework controversy during the India tour of 2013

Melinda Farrell24-Mar-2016Shane Watson believes he made the right decision to prolong his international career following the homework controversy during the India tour of 2013.Watson, who was among four Australia players axed for the third Test of that series in Mohali for ignoring team orders, admitted he was not entirely comfortable with his working conditions at the time, and had even pondered over his future. However, Watson’s “love” for the game ultimately made his decision an easy one.”Absolutely [glad I went on]. That was a time when I certainly was considering my future within the Australian team. Because at that point of time, I certainly was not enjoying the environment at all. I wasn’t enjoying playing,” Watson, who will retire from all internationals after the ongoing World Twenty20, said.”The thing that really shone through at that point of time was how much I loved the game, realising I was living the dream. I just had to get through that period of time knowing – or having faith – that there was light at the end of the tunnel.”That light came in the form of Darren Lehmann, who was appointed as Australia’s head coach in June 2013 following the sacking of Mickey Arthur. Within six months, Watson was part of the squad that whitewashed England 5-0 during the home Ashes in 2013-14. Two years later, Watson would also get his second taste of World Cup success, as Australia lifted the trophy for the fifth time, at the MCG.”There certainly was a change within two or three months, with Darren coming in and really changing things around. There’s no doubt like all situations in life when it doesn’t work out how you want to, or it’s not going on the same lines, if your’e able to stick it out for a period of time there is normally some light there. I’ve been very fortunate that there certainly was with an Ashes win at home and the World Cup at home.”I think its’ a combination of everything. There’s no doubt when Darren took over from Micky, yeah, certainly we got back to playing the Australian way, which everyone certainly enjoys doing and you’re [increasing] the chance of having success.”Watson, who has led Australia in all three formats, felt the team was safe in the hands of the current captain, Steven Smith: “He [Smith] is doing a great job. He’s learning on the job and learning quickly. It’s hard to realise he still is really a very young guy, even though he has achieved a lot of things in his career already.”He is going to continue to get better as a leader as well. I know the guys who have grown up with Steve as well, they love how honest he is. How simplifiied he is with everything he does and how he talks to the group. The guys are certainly very relaxed in that regard.”

England’s bowling coach David Saker has turned down an offer to become director of cricket at Warwickshire, saying that he still has “unfinished business”.

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jan-2013David Saker has turned down a chance to become director of cricket at Warwickshire, saying that the prospect of back-to-back Ashes tours in the next year and the 2015 World Cup has left him “unfinished business” with England.Saker first revealed to ESPNcricinfo last month that he was attracted by the role relinquished by Ashley Giles last month after he took over day-to-day coaching duties with England’s one-day sides and Warwickshire were interested enough to pursue the matter.However, exploratory talks over the weekend have not come to fruition, leaving Saker to commit his future to England as he prepared to leave on Thursday with the team for their tours of India and New Zealand over the next three months.He told the : “I had talks with Warwickshire and it was certainly an attractive offer they made. But it has come a little too early for me. I have unfinished business with the England team and I would like to take that through at least until the end of the 2015 World Cup.”Warwickshire’s chairman Norman Gascoigne insisted that a firm offer had not been made. “We contacted David to clarify the situation with him and ask whether he wanted to apply or not. He came back to us and said that the timing was not right for him and that he intended to continue with England. That is as far as it went. I can categorically say that at no stage did we offer him the job.”Saker, lives south of Birmingham and, as a fulltime member of England’s backroom staff, still must withstand the heavy travelling demands that have caused Andy Flower to relinquish day-to-day management of England’s one-day sides to Giles.Since funding his own flight from Australia to be interviewed for the job, he has played a leading role in England’s home and away Ashes wins as well as victory in the Test series in India. He must be due a refund on his original ticket.His emphasis on the psychology and methodology involved in fast bowling, rather than biomechanics, has had a positive effect on England’s fast-bowling attack.His decision to stay with England increases the likelihood that Warwickshire will follow Giles’ initial recommendation and appoint somebody with links to the county.

Mohsin Khan, Pakistan’s interim coach, believes Misbah-ul-Haq’s side has the ability to become the best team in the world following its second successive Test victory over England

George Dobell in Abu Dhabi29-Jan-2012Mohsin Khan, Pakistan’s interim coach, believes Misbah-ul-Haq’s side has the ability to become the best team in the world following its second successive Test victory over England.Pakistan’s 72-run win in Abu Dhabi gave them an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series over the No.1 Test side. It also meant that Pakistan had won four series in a row. Mohsin did warn, however, that England’s struggles on Asian pitches illustrated how hard it can be for teams to adapt to a foreign environment and said Pakistan had “a lot to prove” in overseas conditions.”I think this team has the capacity to become the world’s best team,” Mohsin said. “Our target should be to gradually come in the top three in both Tests and one-day cricket, and then gradually go to world number one.”Now we have to perform when we play in other parts of the world. We have a lot to prove. When we go to England, our batsmen struggle against swing and seam bowling just as England struggle against spin. But give our bowlers credit: it needs skill to exploit rivals’ weaknesses. Our spinners bowled well.”Mohsin also praised Misbah’s leadership and credited the warm relationship between captain and coach as a key ingredient in Pakistan’s success. “He is a very good captain,” Mohsin said, “and I have a wonderful rapport with him. He gives me respect as coach and as his senior and I give him respect as captain, so it is a mutual thing.”We make a game plan and take inputs from senior and junior players. Maybe a junior player has something good and wise to tell us. Misbah respects my experience and as coach it is my duty to support him as he is to make the team fight. He is doing that.”When I became coach I knew that this team had talent in abundance. My first priority was to make them mentally and physically strong and that was on display when Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq batted. We won a lost match on Saturday and the kind of belief and self confidence this team has shown is great.”Mohsin’s own future remains unclear. He was only appointed as interim coach after Waqar Younis stepped down in September 2011 and it is still anticipated that Dav Whatmore will win the position on a full time basis after the limited-overs section of the series against England is completed. The manner in which the Pakistan players lifted Mohsin upon their shoulders in the immediate aftermath of the victory in Abu Dhabi, however, spoke volumes for the high regard in which he is held by them.”I am proud of my team and the moment when we won and then the players
lifted me and celebrated the win, that was a joy to behold,” Mohsin said. “It showed team spirit and the unity in joy. That was the biggest gift I can have from my players. Our actions are louder than words and I hope that this good work goes on and on.”

A round-up of the first week of matches in the MTN40

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Nov-2010The Dolphins set the tone for a South African weekend that was dominated by Natal-based sides when they beat the Cobras by 37 runs in Durban. Things started badly for the Dolphins. Loots Bosman, fresh from his trip to the UAE, was out for a duck in the second over. Then, the procession of half centuries began. Cameron Delport (52 off 44 balls), Imraan Khan (53 off 66 balls), Ravi Bopara (80 off 82 balls) and Glen Addicott (70 off 41 balls) helped the Dolphins to a healthy 281 for 6. Bopara shared in a 60-run partnership with Imraan and a 126-run stand with Addicott to earn the Man-of-the-Match award. Monde Zondeki was the most economical bowler for the Cobras, taking 1 for 27 in five overs.In reply the Cobras started strongly. Herschelle Gibbs (40 off 32 balls) and Andrew Puttick (47) put on 69 for the first wicket in 11.3 overs. Gibbs was bowled by Quinton Friend (2-48) and Stiaan van Zyl (20 off 29 balls) joined Puttick at the wicket. Imran Tahir (2-32) was one of the two Dolphins’ substitutes and showed his class as a limited-overs bowler. After he removed van Zyl, the Cobras middle order couldn’t get it together. Justin Kemp scored 37 off 41 balls, but the support he required from Justin Ontong (27 off 25 balls) and Richard Levi (11 off 8 balls) was lacking. The Cobras ended on 244 for 9, handing the Dolphins a respectable win.In Potchefstroom, the Lions beat the Knights by three wickets. The Lions opted to field and had immediate reward. Ethan O’ Reilly (2-33), who Alviro Petersen describes as having “a heart bigger than his body”, plucked two early wickets. Morne van Wyk (0) was bowled with the first ball of the match and Reeza Hendricks was caught behind. Rilee Rossouw rode to the Knights rescue. He scored 102 off 103 balls, with 12 fours and one six, to form the mainstay of the Knights’ innings. Small contributions from Deal Elgar (30 off 39 balls) and Adrian McLaren (29 off 31 balls) helped the visitors to 259 for 8. Paul Harris (2-43) made clear his intention to challenge for a place in the national one-day side with an economical return.The Lions relied on batting contributions all-round to chase down the total. Petersen (49 off 38 balls) and Richard Cameron (52 off 51 balls) rallied to put them in a commanding position after Stephen Cook departed early. Zander de Bruyn (52 off 52 balls) also chipped in with a half-century. Robbie Frylinck (23* off 11 balls) was with Werner Coetsee at the end as the Lions won off the penultimate ball of the match.The Knights will be disappointed with their bowling performance, giving away 20 wides. Dillon du Preez (0-41) will be particularly aggrieved. Despite not bowling a wide, he went for a more than ten runs an over.The Warriors and Titans also contested a thrilling encounter, in which the defending champions beat their northern rivals by four wickets. Makhaya Ntini (1-33) struck early to remove Blake Snijman and Basheer Walters (1-34) had Gulam Bodi out for 5 as the Titans found themselves 22 for 2 in the sixth over.Jacques Rudolph (85 off 95 balls) withstood the storm of wickets and was helped by late bursts from his lower order. Roelof van der Merwe (36* off 32 balls) and David Wiese (39* off 26 balls) propelled the Titans to 212 for 7. None of the Warriors bowlers got more than one wicket.Davy Jacobs led the Warriors reply. His 58 runs came off just 42 balls and laid the foundation for his team. Mario Olivier (2-24) got the Titans back into the game when he removed Jacobs and Arno Jacobs in consecutive overs. Ashwell Prince (45 off 63 balls) and Justin Kreusch (36 off 59 balls) were made to work hard to put the Warriors back in the driving seat. Kelly Smuts (22* off 21 balls) and Lyall Meyer led the Warriors to victory with two balls to spare.Batsman of the week: For the first century of this season’s MTN40 and helping dig his team out of a hole, Rilee Rossouw earns this week’s prize.