Paarl - A maiden career double-century from Justin Ontong ensured the Cape Cobras dominated the third day of their Sunfoil Series clash against the Dolphins at Boland Park in Paarl on Saturday.
The veteran right-hander batted for over seven-and-a-half hours to hit a marathon 225 (332 balls, 24 fours), the highest individual score for either team in the fixture, and take his team to 447 all out.
It was a vital innings in the context of the match, and possibly in the context of the Cobras’ season, which to date has been a miserable one after three losses in four games, as it all but ensured they were on course to avoid another defeat following a morale-boosting day.
Ontong, standing in as captain for the suspended Omphile Ramela, shared in a record 202-run fifth stand with Keegan Petersen (86 off 183 balls, 12 fours) after the struggling Cape side had slumped to 22/4 on day two in reply to the 478 set by the Dolphins.
Another record followed from the skipper for the eighth wicket when he added 144 with Dane Piedt, who made 61 (110 balls, 5 fours).
Robbie Frylinck (3/68) was the pick of the bowlers for the Dolphins and they then reached the close on 21/1, a lead of 52.