The Cobras were in a strong position when bad light stopped play in the Sunfoil match against the Titans, holding an 82-run lead on the first innings.
It came at a bad time, when the Cobra needed to score quickly and offer the Titans a target on the fourth day in Benoni.
The hosts, the only team with a win in the first round of matches played last December, fought all the way after being presented with a massive total of 428, eventually closing on 346. There was determined batting by Andrea Agathangelou (51), Heino Kuhn (63) and Rivaldo Moonsamy (76), and a vigorous wag of the tail.
Dane Piedt is having a marvellous game, having scored 74 for the Cobras and taking 4-81 off almost 29 overs, including the first three wickets, to undermine the Titans’ efforts.
Lizaad Williams’ nagging pace also brought reward, snapping up 3-76, but not before Eldred Hawken (20), Malusi Siboto (38) and Junior Dala had helped the last three wickets add 89 valuable runs.
Nevertheless, the deficit was still sizeable, but it will take some brave manipulation to get a result out of this game.
In Bloemfontein, Sarel Erwee’s hundred off 227 balls and Morne van Wyk’s 58 off 216 hauled the Dolphins towards safety after being forced to follow on by the Knights. After 73 tortuous overs, the Dolphins ended on 187-1, still 54 runs behind.
Titans v Cobras scorecard
Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
