Parnell ton consigns Warriors to sixth defeat

Warriors slumped to an innings-and-12-run defeat in the wake of Wayne Parnell's maiden first-class century and a string of fifties from the Cape Cobras batting line-up in the Sunfoil series. Cobras offspinner Dane Piedt picked up eight wickets in the match to cap off a dominant display.

Warriors had chosen to bat in Paarl, but they were put in early trouble at 94 for 5. Yaseen Vallie did his best to redress the damage with his 11th first-class ton, but the lower order was brittle too. He stitched a 58-run stand for the sixth wicket with Gihahn Cloeta, but Piedt broke that stand en route to his 4 for 75 and forced Warriors to 217 all out.

Cobras pulled into the lead before their fourth wicket fell. Opener Simon Khomari struck 70, Stiaan van Zyl, batting at No. 4, made 56, Justin Ontong struck 58 and Parnell went further with 111 off 146 balls with 20 fours and a six. Warriors new-ball bowler Basheeru-Deen Walters picked up 4 for 91, but his efforts were a footnote considering Cobras put up 404 on the board.

With a lead of 187, Piedt and left-arm seamer Beuran Hendricks ran through the Warriors line-up. JJ Smuts at the top of the order resisted with 61 off 113 balls, but the rest could not pass 33. The last four batsmen fell for single-digits as Cobras mopped up their second win in seven matches and Warriors recorded their sixth loss in seven matches.