JP Duminy is emerging as a dominant force in the Cape Cobras’ One-Day campaign, demonstrating his intent with an incredible 37-run over against the Knights.
‘I was trying to go for the six sixes,’ said the Cobras captain after he recorded an over which read: 6, 6, 6, 6, 2, 5nb, 6. While he missed the full house, when legbreak spinner Eddie Leie drifted his fifth ball wide, his 37 runs broke the record of 36 runs in an over, held by Herschelle Gibbs, with his six sixes. At the same time, he condemned Leie to the worst figures in the history of the competition: 1-90.
‘It is not every day you get the opportunity, so of course I was trying to go for the six sixes in an over,’ said Duminy, who finished unbeaten on 70 off just 37 balls on Wednesday night.
‘Initially, I was just concerned about getting the bonus point. I looked up at the scoreboard and we needed 35 with four overs to go to get the bonus point, so I just decided to take Eddie on. I was striking the ball really cleanly, and when the first two went for six, I figured I might as well give it a full go because we would still have secured the bonus point. It was enjoyable.’
His coach, Ashwell Prince, was elated. ‘Hitting 37 off that last over was just unbelievable. You know when JP swings the bat it stays hit, so it was really brilliant to watch.’
Duminy sits at the top of the run-scoring list with 366 from seven matches, averaging 73.20 with two scores in the 80s and this 70. He is just one run ahead of his teammate Pieter Malan, who averages 52.14.
The Cobras are in second place on the log, one point behind the Titans after seven games. They face the struggling Highveld Lions in Paarl tonight.
‘It’s the sort of competition where, on the day, if they get their combinations right, they can beat you,’ said Prince. ‘The Lions can’t be written off. We need to make sure we treat them with the respect required and keep our feet on the ground.
‘There are a few games remaining now for the playoffs to be decided and hopefully we can finish well to secure that semi-final berth.’
It is No 1 vs No 6 when the Titans meet the Knights in Kimberley, and the Dolphins, two points behind the Cobras at No 3, meet the Warriors in Durban.
Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix
