The Cape Cobras continue to lead the way at the top of the Momentum One Day Cup standings, after defeating the Dolphins by 68 runs at Newlands on Friday.
The Cobras went into the encounter at the top of the pile, and thanks to fifties from Andrew Puttick, JP Duminy and Jason Smith, before a disciplined display with the ball, that situation hasn’t changed.
Playing in the competition for the first time in three months, the Cobras won the toss and chose to bat, as a couple of Proteas were hoping to perform with the five-match ODI series against England starting on Wednesday.
Andrew Puttick and Stiaan van Zyl got the side off to the perfect start, with Puttick doing the majority of the damage in their 116-run stand. Thanks to Ayavuya Myoli, however, the Dolphins got right back into the contest with three quick wickets. Van Zyl (35) was the first to depart, before Omphile Ramela fell for a golden duck, putting Myoli on a hat-trick. That didn’t materialise, but he did get Puttick four overs later, who perished for a well-played 79.
JP Duminy (68) and U19 World Cup star Jason Smith (50) then set about posting a competitive total for their side, and they did exactly that with a 91-run stand to guide the hosts to 265-7 from their allotted overs.
The Dolphins got off to a disastrous start, as Morne van Wyk was bowled by Beuran Hendricks for one, before Tshepang Dithole walked for just 3 to leave them reeling on 15-2.
Wickets at regular intervals hampered the Dolphins’ chances of pulling off a victory. David Miller looked good for his 42 before being run out, and Ryan McLaren brought up a half-century in the latter stages, but the wickets kept tumbling, all this while Dane Paterson and Dane Piedt were bowling at under three an over.
The Cobras dealt with the tail swiftly, for the Dolphins to be bowled out for 197 and suffer their fourth defeat of the campaign.
