The Chevrolet Warriors picked up some valuable log points in their MTN40 cricket match against the visiting Cape Cobras at Buffalo Park on Sunday, winning an engrossing game by 59 runs.

Set a reasonable target of 215 in 40 overs, the Cobras innings stuttered and spluttered at times, rocked by the loss of captain Graeme Smith for five at nine for one wicket.

Sparkling stroke-makets Robin Peterson, Andrew Puttick, JP Duminy and Justin Ontong all joined their skipper back in the hut for only 51 runs within the first 14 runs.

Left-arm swing bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who claimed 4-27 in a match-winning performance for the Warriors against the Dolphins Friday night, grabbed three wickets and at the end of his first spell, he had the outstanding figures of 3-16 off six overs.

Duminy smacked Makhaya Ntini for two sixes on the leg side, both wristy shots that cleared the fence, but he fell to a good catch by Juan Theron off Tsotsobe.

Puttick was out for nine to a glorious catch by Johan Botha off the same bowler, running with his back to the action for 25 metres before safely pouching the catch.

Herschelle Gibbs, however, was not going to give the game away.

He immediately went on the attack, slamming 10 fours and a six to all corners of the ground in an exciting 54-ball knock of 60 that had the spectators on the edge of their seats.

He batted almost nonchantly, and his strokes through covers, pulls and hooks were out of the top drawer.

He eventually fell to spinner Nicky Boje, caught on the boundary by Justin Kreusch going for a big hit.

Gibbs and Justin Kemp added 67 for the sixth wicket, with Gibbs doing the bulk of the scoring.

Kemp, however, was unable to unleash any of his big shots as Botha and Mark Boucher, with all their experience, set a tight field with the Warriors fielding superbly throughout.

Kemp was eventually last man out for 29 with only one four.

The wickets were shared by the Warriors bowlers, with each of the six bowlers used taking at least one wicket.

Earlier, the Warriors, who were sent into bat after the Cobras won the toss, and except for a partnership of 86 for the second wicket between the two left-handers, Colin Ingram, who scored 53 and Arno Jacobs, 40, the home team struggled with the bat in the face of some hostile bowling from the Cobras.

Kreusch did not last long, playing on a fast ball from Monde Zondeki without scoring, but Ingram was all-aggression, going for some big hits and he smacked three sixes and three fours in his entertaining innings off 66 balls.

He hit spinner Sybrand Engelbrecht over the chalets and out of the ground with the umpires having to call for a replacement ball.

Jacobs, too, was aggressive,smacking two fours in an 88-ball knock, but once Ingram was dismissed at 94 for two wickets, the Warriors lost wickets at regular intervals, with Ashwell Prince (1), and Mark Boucher, 10, going quickly.

But then Botha stepped in to steady the ship, going to a well-played 42 with a six and three fours from shots all round the ground.

But when Botha was bowled by Zondeki in the 37th over, the innings was quickly wrapped up for 214, with Andrew Birch being needlessly run out going for an impossible run in the last over. The Cobras' bowling was wayward at time, with as many as 22 wides being recorded in the innings.

Tsotsobe was nominated as Man of the Match for his fine bowling performance.

Sapa

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