Proteas all-rounder JP Duminy scored a duck for the Cobras as they crashed out of the CSA T20 Challenge semi-final in a 15-run win for the Warriors.
Our Proteas World Cup squad members watch continues. This time to keep an eye on Duminy as he continues to find his form ahead of the World Cup.
After a month on the sidelines, the 35-year-old has made his return to the Cobras at the business end of the T20 competition. He failed to impress, however, scoring 29, one and a duck in his three matches.
His poor effort with bat against the Warriors in the semi-final in East London on Wednesday was costly as the Cobras completed a third consecutive defeat. This saw them miss out on their chance to play the Lions in the final at the Wanderers despite leading the table for a big chunk of the competition.
It was the youngsters who stepped up for the Warriors. Former SA U19 wicketkeeper-batsmen Matthew Breetzke and Sinethemba Qeshile outshone their senior counterparts, scoring 60 off 30 balls and 35 off 21 balls respectively.
Warriors skipper Jon-Jon Smuts also contributed with 34 as the home side posted 172-7.
Rory Kleinveldt was once again sensational for the Cobras, taking 4-33, but this wasn’t enough to restrict the Warriors to a lower total.
It was reassuring, from a Proteas perspective, to see Duminy complete four overs and finish with figures of 0-25.
The Cobras’ chase was headlined by David Bedingham (74 0ff 39 balls) who top-scored in the match, but failed to take his side over the line.
More would have been expected from Duminy, who lost his wicket in the fifth over to reduce the Cobras to 37-2. He fell to the Warriors’ best bowler of the night, Sisanda Magala (2-19).
There next-best score was Kyle Verreyne’s 23, but all in all it was an unimpressive batting performance from the Cobras.
This signed off another trophyless season for the Cape Town side, who came second in the 4-Day Challenge and were knocked out of the One-Day Cup semi-final.
Photo: Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images
