His first franchise ton for the World Sports Betting Cape Cobras and a 214-run partnership that will help touch the lives of many people through the Spirited Cricket campaign, have been highlights of Pieter Malan’s weekend and indeed his career.
Malan (28) has scored 24 first-class centuries of which two have been franchise hundreds.
The second franchise ton – his first for the WSB Cape Cobras &8211; came this past weekend against the Warriors in a Sunfoil Series match when he and Zubayr Hamza shared in a 214-run partnership for the second wicket.
Malan struck his 124 in 314 minutes and propelled the visitors from 37 for one to 251 before the second wicket fell at St. George’s Park in Port Elizabeth.
The WSB Cape Cobras have now shared in 14 fifty-run stands which has contributed R35 000 to the Spirited Cricket Campaign.
“Yes, I feel that as coach Ashwell (Prince) said, we make people’s lives better even when we are not winning matches. Therefore the Spirited Cricket Campaign has been a winning formula, we are definitely making a difference,” Malan said.
Malan had an astute adversary while he batted. Malibongwe Maketa, the Warriors coach, was the coach at Northerns when Malan played there and he knew Malan’s strengths and weaknesses well. “Yes, they bowled very well and kept it straight. They did not bowl much outside the off stump, as they knew I love the cut shot.
“But what Malibongwe maybe did not know, is that I worked hard on my straight driving and the clip through midwicket,” Malan added.
“This first franchise century for the Cobras means a lot to me psychologically, because it just confirms I can make the transition.
“As a Cobras team, we are getting ourselves in positions from where we can win games. We have just not grabbed the opportunities in critical moments.”
Malan is upbeat about the Cobras batting. He said Prince’s challenge to the batsmen that they will score centuries if they face 200 balls, has given the batsmen an incentive to occupy the crease and the top and middle-order are making positive strides.
The WSB Cape Cobras’ next Sunfoil Series match takes place at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn against the VKB Knights starting on Friday.