Jade Schoeman was given a first opportunity to open the bowling with his off-breaks, and made full use of favourable conditions. Striking twice in his fourth over, he proved difficult to get away throughout – and was rewarded with a First XI career-best return of 2-20 from his ten overs.
Jordan Bowers followed up the early inroads made into the Rylands batting, capturing his first wickets for the First XI in taking 2-21 from his nine overs.
Siyabonga Venge played the sole innings of any substance for Rylands, holding up the Cape Town attack for 21 overs as he carefully compiled 30 from 68 balls faced.
Often the bane of the Cape Town bowlers in the past, Ottoman’s player-coach Mujahid Behardien on this occasion played a frenetic shot-a-ball knock that brought him 24 from 27 balls – but did little to alter his side’s fortunes.
Introduced into the attack late, Michal Lord’s left-arm spin then promptly knocked over the second half of Ryland’s batting line-up in short order – needing just four overs to complete a Cape Town First XI career-best return of 4-7.
Alex Draai book-ended the Rylands innings with the first and final wickets to fall, cementing his spot as the First XI’s leading wicket-taker of the season.
With Cape Town needing just 106 for victory, opening bat Josh Chippendale cracked six fours in as many overs to speed them on their way to a convincing victory.
Cape Town’s leading run-scorer of the past three decades Mathew Goles was fittingly the man to see his side home, hitting five fours and a six in his undefeated 39 from 36 balls.
Bowling for the first time in his nine matches against Cape Town, Jack Newby’s leg-spin picked up two quick wickets at the death as Cape Town sought to finish matters quickly.
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