Led by Pieter Malan’s 195, the Cobras finally produced the performance their coach has been calling for when they struck hard against the Warriors at Newlands.

Despite much time being lost, the Cobras raced past the Warriors’ first-innings offering of 347, scoring at 4.35 an over to declare at 530-8.

It was agony and ecstacy for Malan, who was 48 overnight, alongside Justin Ontong, with the score at a tipping 97-2. The two consolidated in a stand of 177 until Ontong fell on 61. Malan then put on 111 with Aviwe Mgijima in 26 overs, when he fell to Basheeru-Deen Walters, just five runs short of a deserved double hundred, off  277 balls (27×4, 2×6). Mgijima, too, ended so close yet so far, scoring 90 off 155 balls.

For the Cobras, the sting was in the tail with Jason Smith (41 off 49), Dane Piedt (52 off 38) and Lizaard Williams (24 off 32) adding valuable runs and a high rate.

At the close, the Warriors were 12-1, trailing by 171 runs.

In Pietermartizburg, the Titans overcame the weather delays to put themselves in a winning position against the Dolphins. They bowled out the hosts for 216, producing a solid all-round bowling display, with three wickets apiece for Tabraiz Shamsi and Alfred Mothoa.

With a lead of 284, the Titans had no hesitation in enforcing the follow-on. The Dolphins are making a better stand second time around, but they lost two wickets to Shamsi to close on 160-2, trailing by 124.

Cobras vs Warriors scorecard

Dolphins v Titans scorecard

Photo: Chris Rocco/BackpagePix