KIMBERLEY (January 28) - The Gestetner Diamond Eagles displayed far more zip and zest than the Nashua Cape Cobras as they hammered the visitors by 88 runs in their Standard Bank Pro20 match at the De Beers Diamond Oval in Kimberley on Wednesday night.

The Cobras handed the Eagles several bonus runs in the field, the home side reaching 176 for three in their 20 overs, and then their batsmen capitulated to 88 all out.

Shadley van Schalkwyk's slower ball was a potent tool as he claimed the key wickets of Stiaan van Zyl (22) and Justin Ontong (4) and, once medium-pacer Ryan Bailey bowled Andrew Puttick for 23, the Cobras had no more leeway and there was no resistance at all from the lower-order.

There were also no more heroics from Henry Davids, as he ran himself out for just five in the fifth over.

CJ de Villiers also produced a telling performance with the ball, taking three for 15.

The Eagles innings had been set up by a top-class opening stand of 110 off 76 balls between Adrian McLaren (61) and Morne van Wyk (59).

McLaren, a new face in the Eagles line-up and a local Kimberley lad, gave himself a settling-in period on a slowish pitch before unleasing a series of hefty leg-side strokes, his runs coming off just 42 balls with four fours and two sixes.

Once Van Wyk, who was typically strong off the back foot in collecting eight fours and a six off 43 balls, was run out, the Cobras managed a few economical overs before an inspired late burst by Dean Elgar, who lashed 16 runs in Roger Telemachus's final over to finish with 46 not out off 27 balls. - MWP