Cape Cobras earned their first points of this season's Momentum Cup when half-centuries from
Richard Levi and
Omphile Ramela and four wickets from right-arm quick
Jason Smith led them to a comprehensive 57-run win against
Warriors in
East London. Cobras marched to 319 for 6, with middle order contributions too, after opting to bat and dismissed Warriors for 262 with
Yaseen Vallie unbeaten on a valiant 93.
Cobras were given a strong platform with an opening stand of 118 in under 20 overs even though Ramela scored slowly - 58 from 96 balls. But Levi hammered 11 fours and a six in his 73 off 55 before he handed a return catch to Sisanda Magala. Ramela was run out just over 10 overs later even as Stiaan van Zyl chipped in with 44 and the middle and lower order saw useful contributions from Dane Vilas (46 off 35) , Smith (29 off 26), Aviwe Mgijima (21* off 15) and Vernon Philander (16* off 8).
Cobras broke Warriors' opening stand in the seventh over when Rory Kleinveldt removed JJ Smuts. Warriors struggled to stitch substantial partnerships after that until Vallie accompanied opener Gihahn Cloete in a 58-run fourth-wicket stand. Once Dane Piedt dismissed Cloete, Vallie held up one end but wickets kept falling around him. His unbeaten 93 off 96 balls was not enough, as all Cobras bowlers were among the wickets, led by Smith's 4 for 38, and Warriors were bowled out in 44.2 overs.