Stephen Cook ton crushes Cobras

A century from the captain Stephen Cook and an eight-wicket match haul from the fast bowler Sean Jamison helped Lions rout Cape Cobras by an innings and 35 runs in Potchefstroom.

Cobras, after being inserted, began brightly as their opener Richard Levi put up 50-plus stands for the first two wickets with Omphile Ramela and Keegan Petersen (47). Levi stroked 12 fours and a six to make his way to 95, but was denied a ton as he was caught behind in the 45th over. Cobras' next four batsmen all made starts, but couldn't raise a much-needed fifty, as Lions kept striking at key intervals. Jamison and Dwaine Pretorius claimed four wickets apiece to clean up the tail, as Cobras were bundled out for 300.

Lions, in reply, posted a mammoth 475. Their innings was built around Cook's 147, and his 155-run stand for the second wicket with Dominic Hendricks, who blazed 68. Shortly after Lions crossed the 250-run mark, Cook left the match as his wife had a baby overnight, but a 76 from Neil McKenzie and a 55 from Dale Deeb down the order helped the team collect a 175-run lead.

Cobras began their second essay poorly, as their batsmen struggled to string together a meaningful partnership. Ramela top-scored with 32, but no other batsman could manage more than 23, as the team was dismissed for 140 inside 56 overs. Jamison picked up 4 for 53, while Deeb ended with 4 for 40.

An unbeaten first-innings ton from Colin Ingram sent Warriors on their way to a 109-run win against Dolphins at Buffalo Park. After being inserted, Warriors made the early running in the game, as fifties from Michael Price (92) and Colin Ackermann gave the team a good start, before a 115-run partnership between Ingram and Andrew Birch lifted the score to 458 for 6, after which they declared. Birch contributed only 17 in that stand, as Ingram took centre-stage with his 131 not out, which featured 16 fours.

Dolphins never really got going in their reply and were bowled out for 200 inside 60 overs. A few batsmen made starts, but nobody apart from Daniel Sincuba (49) and Daryn Smit (37) could make a meaningful score as the team lost wickets at regular intervals. Basheeru-Deen Walters was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4 for 40, while Birch and Sisanda Magala snared two scalps each.

With a 238-run lead in hand, Warriors further enforced their advantage as half-centuries from David White (56*) and Ackermann (76) drove the team to 167, after which they declared, setting Dolphins 426 for victory. A century from Imraan Khan (103) stabilised Dolphins' chase following a shaky start, but his dismissal in the 50th over paved the way for two more quick wickets. Smit resisted with an unbeaten 84, and Keshav Maharaj, the No.10 batsman, scored 44, but it was only a matter of time before Warriors made the breakthrough, as Dolphins folded for 316. Birch took 4 for 86, taking his tally to six wickets, while Walters and JJ Smuts shared four wickets between them to seal the win.