The Warriors piled more pressure on the Cape Cobras and their beleaguered coach Paul Adams when they hammered 342-4 on day one of their Sunfoil match.
The Cobras were under the Warriors’ heel from the moment they lost the toss and were told to get into the field at Newlands. The opening batsmen were unthreatened by the Cobras strike bowlers and by the 10th over had lifted the run-rate to a vigorous 3.8 an over.
They were particularly harsh on young Jason Smith, whose medium pacers went for 22 in his first two two overs as they accumulated 113 before the first wicket fell, with the spin of Dane Piedt seeing off Edward Moore (50) after 25 overs.
Michael Price, the 35-year-old veteran, put behind him a string of low scores and was closing in on his 11th first-class century when he was bowled by Stiaan van Zyl, agonisingly short by just one run. He had 16 fours and a six among the 162 balls he faced, striking at over 61.
But by then he had put on 94 for the second wicket with Colin Ackermann and the visitors were sitting comfortably on 207 after 47 overs
Ackermann, as if to celebrate the news that he has won a two-year contract with English county Leicestershire, went on score his eighth first-class century off 178 balls (13×4, 3×6) and was unbeaten at the end on 116. Yaseen Vallie was comfortably cruising on 61 off 109 balls when he fell shortly before the close.
Before the match, Adams had called on his rebellious senior players, who have called for his removal, to step up. They will need to now if they are to take anything from this match.
Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix
