Title-chasing Cape Cobras felt the heat on Day One of their 4-Day Series clash with the Titans.
With their lead at the top of the standings cut to one and a half points in this their penultimate match, the margins are unforgiving.
And with temperatures at 38 degrees in Oudtshoorn, they were made to chase the leather as the Titans scored 260/8 yesterday.
The Cobras started well as they made inroads in the visitors’ batting line-up, at one stage reducing the Tshwane side to 74/4.
That good work was done by spinner George Linde (3/77) and skipper Dane Piedt as they bagged the top-order wickets of Andrea Agathangelou, Jonathan Vandiar and Farhaan Behardien.
Debutant Cobras pace bowler Akhona Mnyaka celebrated his bow with the scalp of opening batsman Victor Mahlangu.
But a steady 84-run fifth-wicket partnership between Leus du Plooy (84*) and Henry Davids kept the Cobras busy, before Piedt took his second wicket of the day by removing Davids for 47.
The captain, however, was not done and led a late charge of spin bowling to get at the tail and finish the day with figures of 4/72.