It wasn't the best of returns to cricket action for Proteas veteran Hashim Amla on Sunday.
Having last played on March 1 when he scored 10 runs for the Cape Cobras against the Titans in a 1Day Cup match, Amla took a break from the game to be with his ill father.
But the 36-year-old made his comeback for the Cobras in their T20 Challenge match against the Lions at the Wanderers on Sunday as he starts a late push for a World Cup squad spot.
And Amla was sent straight into action when the Lions won the toss and sent the Cobras in to bat.
Opening the batting with Janneman Malan, Amla and his teammates were in trouble early on when Malan tried a big shot off the bowling of Bjorn Fortuin but was caught at long on before opening his account.
Amla, unfortunately, couldn’t be the hero for his team on the day, only scoring 16 before playing on a Wiaan Mulder delivery.
The Cobras managed to get to 169/8 off their 20 overs in the end, thanks in large part to good knocks from Aviwe Mgjima (29 off 22 balls) and Vernon Philander (31 off 17) down the order.
Lions opener Ryan Rickelton shone for the hosts in their reply, scoring 69 runs at the top of the order.
His innings set up a thrilling finale to the match, with the Lions needing 21 runs off 10 balls for the win in the end.
Cobras bowlers Rory Kleinveldt (3/35) and Dane Paterson (2/30) held their nerve as the Lions ended on 164/8 - five runs short of the Cobras.