Cobras: Levi out, Parnell opens

Wayne Parnell goes for another big hit for the Cape Cobras against the Lions in the T20 Challenge on Sunday. Photo: Samuel Shivambu, BackpagePix

Wayne Parnell goes for another big hit for the Cape Cobras against the Lions in the T20 Challenge on Sunday. Photo: Samuel Shivambu, BackpagePix

Published Dec 1, 2015

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Big-hitting Wayne Parnell will continue to open the batting for the Cape Cobras in the injury-enforced absence of Richard Levi.

The Cobras announced on their Facebook page on Tuesday that Levi won’t be ready to face the Warriors in a T20 Challenge clash in East London on Wednesday after an unfortunate fielding accident in the Lions game at the weekend.

Levi was unable to bat at the Wanderers on Sunday after a throw from the boundary by captain Justin Ontong struck the opening batsman flush on the back of the head. Levi went down in a heap, and was assisted in walking off the field.

Parnell proved to be a great success in his place, smashing a match-winning 99 off 57 balls against the Lions, and the left-handed quick bowler will carry on at the top of the order alongside Andrew Puttick against the Warriors on Wednesday (6pm start).

“Richard did consult a neurologist in Johannesburg and he has been assessed. It is mild concussion,” Cobras coach Paul Adams said on Tuesday. “There will be another assessment made on Wednesday, and we hope he will be ready for Friday’s match (against the Dolphins in Durban). There is a good chance that he will be ready.”

There was one change made to the Cobras squad on Tuesday as paceman Dane Paterson was brought back. He could form a strong seam attack alongside Parnell, Rory Kleinveldt and Mthokozisi Shezi in East London, although Adams will have to decide if he wants to stick with two spinners in Robin Peterson and Siya Simetu.

Youngster Keegan Petersen is also an option as an additional top-order batsman in place of Levi, while the likes of captain Ontong, left-hander Lesiba Ngoepe and SA Engelbrecht will have to take greater responsibility with bat in hand as well.

Cape Cobras squad

Justin Ontong (capt), Andrew Puttick, Dane Paterson, Keegan Petersen, Lesiba Ngoepe, Justin Kemp, Siya Simetu, SA Engelbrecht, Robin Peterson, Wayne Parnell, Mthokozisi Shezi, Rory Kleinveldt, Lizaad Williams.

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