Lions prevail over Dolphins, wins for Cape Cobras and Titans

Cape Cobras won their first match of the Ram Slam T20 Challenge, beating Knights by 25 runs in Paarl on Friday.

Asked to bat first, Cape Cobras piled on the runs, with wicketkeeper Dane Vilas leading the charge for his side. Vilas scored 48 runs off 36 balls and was involved in two fifty-plus partnerships with Richard Levi and Owais Shah. An unbeaten six-ball 20 from Justin Ontong also helped Cape Cobras finish at 171 for four.

Knights got off to a bad start and were struggling at 38 for 5 in the 10th over as Cape Cobras, led by Beuran Hendricks, picked up wickets regularly and kept the run rate in check. Ryan McLaren and captain Johan van der Wath raised the hopes of Knights, adding 63 runs for the seventh wicket in just 31 balls. However, their wickets in the space of two deliveries in the 19th over, with the team still 35 runs adrift of the target, ensured a victory for Cape Cobras.

Lions bowlers successfully defended a modest total of 129, restricting Dolphins to 122 for 8, to lift the side to their third win of the tournament in Durban.

Lions, who were put in to bat, scored runs at an even clip. Neil McKenzie shouldered the batting line-up, scoring 56 off 38 and adding 57 runs for the third wicket with Temba Bavuma. However, an exceptional bowling spell from medium-pacer Robert Frylinck turned the innings around. Frylinck took four wickets in eight balls, including the wicket of McKenzie, as Lions lost their last six wickets for just 12 runs. Frylinck finished with a five-wicket haul and Lions were all out for 129.

Dolphins were cautious early on but soon found themselves unable to keep pace with the required rate. Captain Vaughn van Jaarsveld and David Miller managed to bring Dolphins back in the game with some quick runs, scoring 33 runs in just 3.4 overs. The Lions' bowlers struck regularly and Dolphins were left chasing 18 runs in the final over with Miller as the only specialist batsman. His run-out off the second ball of the over turned the match in favour of Lions.

A blistering, unbeaten knock of 46 from Albie Morkel took Titans to a five-wicket win over Warriors in Port Elizabeth.

Titans, who chose to field first, had a shaky start to their chase as Simon Harmer and Andrew Birch made inroads into the innings before Morkel stepped up, smashing five fours and three sixes. His unbeaten 60-run partnership with Farhaan Berhadien took Titans to victory with nearly two overs to spare.

Warriors struggled during their innings as Eden Links and Marchant de Lange dismissed the top order cheaply. A partnership of 42 between wicketkeeper Adrian McLaren and Simon Harmer lifted the Warriors from 50 for 6 to 92 for 7. Harmer then added 28 runs with Adrian Birch to take the Warriors to 120 for 8.