The experience of the Cape Cobras in challenging conditions for top-class batsmen, the class of Wayne Parnell and the way in which Vernon Philander complimented the Cape sultan of swing Parnell, contributed to the emphatic 9-wicket win against the Sunfoil Dolphins, said Justin Ontong, the captain.
Parnell took a career-best match-haul of 12-105 in the weekend’s Sunfoil Series clash against the Dolphins at PPC Newlands. It included a career-best innings-haul of 7-51.
The 26-year old bowler said it’s the best he has bowled for some time.
Ontong said with this kind of performance, Parnell is throwing his hat into the national ring. “He must just continue this type of excellence. We are seeing shades of 2010 when he was at this peak.
“Not only did he nip it off the seam, but he also swung it through the air,” said Ontong.
“He struck the right areas consistently at pace, and the batsmen nicked it off and gloved it,” he added.
Stiaan van Zyl, a national test batsman who represented South Africa in the 2015/2016-series against India and England, said Parnell either swung it through the air or nipped it off the seam. His pace was consistently above 135 km/h or 140 km/h and that was impressive.
Ontong said he was up-beat about the consistency of Philander in his first franchise-game for the Cobras this season, as he was a perfect foil for Parnell. He did not give the batsmen any release shots, he bowled at a fuller length and nipped it away or into the stumps.
“He would probably say he is about 90 % there. He did a great job for us,” said Ontong.
Parnell was at the peak of his powers in 2009 and 2010, which included sensational performances in especially One Day Internationals against Australia and the World Twenty20 in England.
He captured 4-25 against Australia at Centurion which included the scalps of Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke. His ability to swing the ball both ways has been one of his greatest assets.
Even when he was not completely at his best for South Africa, he displayed the ability to take wickets, as was the case against Australia at St. George’s Park in Port Elizabeth.
Parnell’s batting confidence has also been noteworthy, as he has smashed 278 runs at an average of 55.60 and a career-best unbeaten 111 against the VKB Knights in this season’s Sunfoil Series.
He has now taken 17 wickets in four matches at an average of 21.41 in the four-day domestic showpiece.
“I was impressed with the intensity at which Stiaan batted in the second innings and told him so,” Ontong said about his batting partner’s unbeaten 37.
Van Zyl spent 147 minutes at the crease in the first innings scoring 19, but both Ontong and Van Zyl said the Sunfoil Dolphins bowled superbly and almost every time they played an attacking shot in anger, there was almost a 50/50-chance of getting out.
But the national player has bolstered his self-belief with his stylish cameo in the second innings.