Cobras defend small total to extend lead

Beuran Hendricks' spell of 4-0-18-3 led Cape Cobras' successful defence of their total of 129 for 9 against Titans at Newlands. The 13-run victory was Cobras' sixth in seven matches and it opened up a ten-point lead at the top of the table. Titans had been progressing at just about a run-a-ball in their chase when they lost Heino Kuhn for 53 to slip to 89 for 3 in 14.3 overs. Kuhn, however, was the only batsman to make more than 20 and his dismissal triggered a slide during which they lost three wickets for 16 runs. Albie Morkel's inability to score more than 1 off 8 balls before he fell to Sunil Narine hindered Titans' momentum. Narine finished with 1 for 23 in four overs as Titans were limited to 116 for 6. Cobras had also struggled in their innings, after choosing to bat, with Hashim Amla's 33 off 24 balls being the top score. Morne Morkel hit Cobras hard at the top with a spell of 4-1-11-2, but it was after David Weise dismissed Amla that the innings fell away. Cobras collapsed from 75 for 2 in 10.5 overs to 129 for 9, but that proved to be enough.

There was a run explosion in Durban, where Dolphins stormed to 214 for 2 and Lions replied with 198 for 9. After winning the toss, the Dolphins top order ran riot. Morne van Wyk scored his 44 at two runs a ball, Cameron Delport smashed 82 off 44 deliveries, and David Miller was unbeaten on 60 off 44. Azhar Mahmood, who went for 12.50 runs an over, and Imran Tahir were the only Lions bowlers to take wickets. The Lions chase got off to a fast start with Quinton de Kock and Alviro Peterson scoring 30s at a strike rate of more than 180, but once they fell the only significant contribution came from Neil McKenzie, who made 61 off 32. With the lower-middle order failing to contribute, the Lions fell 16 runs short.

Dillon du Preez blitzed 24 off 7 balls and then took 2 for 17 in three overs to lead Knights to a five-run win against Warriors in Kimberley. Rilee Rossouw scored an unbeaten run-a-ball 64 but Knights were struggling for momentum and had progressed to 120 for 6 when Johann van der Wath fell. Eight balls were left in the innings and du Preez faced seven of them, hitting two fours and two sixes to lead his team to 145. Warriors made a sedate start to their chase to reach 58 for 2 in ten overs, but JJ Smuts cut loose by hitting two fours and a six off the first three balls of the 11th over. Du Preez returned in the 13th and after conceding a boundary he had Smuts caught for 44 off 27 balls. Warriors then needed 40 in the last four overs but Davy Jacobs and Wayne Parnell falling in successive overs spoiled their finish.