Ontong, Vilas lead Cape Cobras to tight win

Cape Cobras 246 for 3 (Vilas 78*, van Zyl 57, Ontong 52*) beat Lions 245 for 5 (Cook 59, Morris 49*, Bodi 43) by seven wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

An unbeaten 85-run partnership between Dane Vilas and Justin Ontong in 8.2 overs took Cape Cobras to a seven-wicket win against Lions with one over to spare in a tight chase in a 37-overs-a-side contest Potchefstroom.

After a wet outfield had delayed the start, the overs were reduced, and an opening partnership of 92 and a sixth-wicket stand of 80 in 6.1 overs at the death helped Lions put up a strong 245 for 5. Opener Stephen Cook scored a half-century, but the more impactful innings came from Chris Morris, who scored an unbeaten 49 off 25 deliveries. But, the strong total proved to be insufficient.

Opener Richard Levi began the chase well for Cape Cobras, with 37 off 28 deliveries including six fours and a six. Zander de Bruyn, in the eighth over, removed him, and his partner Andrew Puttick soon after to leave them at 62 for 2 in the 12th over. Middle-order batsmen Stiaan van Zyl and Vilas steadied the innings, adding 99 in 16.3 overs. But when van Zyl was dismissed, the required run rate had climbed up to 9.23 runs per over.

Captain Ontong smashed an unbeaten 52 off 27 deliveries, and with Vilas (78* off 71), helped seal the chase. With the win, Cobras occupy the second spot, and boost their chances of taking a play-off position. Lions, who are at the top of the table, weren't affected much by this defeat.

Titans 242 for 3 (van Jaarsveld 109*, Kuhn 86) beat Warriors 241 for 9 (Jacobs 51, Prince 41, van der Merwe 4-50, Morkel 3-36) by seven wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

A quick, unbeaten century by Titans captain Martin van Jaarsveld and an aggressive half-century from wicketkeeper Heino Kuhn guided their side to a comfortable seven-wicket victory against Warriors in Benoni. After left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe and seamer Albie Morkel, with seven wickets between them, helped restrict Warriors to 241 for 9, van Jaarsveld and Kuhn struck a 142-run partnership to take their side home in the 42nd over.

Warriors, after choosing to bat, kept losing wickets regularly. Van der Merwe and Morkel claimed the top-order wickets, reducing them to 166 for 6 in the 37th over. But an eighth-wicket partnership between Ayabulela Gqamane and Basheeru-Deen Walters of 46 in seven overs took them past the 200-run mark. Captain Davy Jacobs was Warriors' highest scorer with a quick 51.

Titans began their chase steadily through their openers, who put on 41 in nine overs. Two wickets then fell quickly, before the big partnership. When Heino Kuhn was dismissed, Titans were 191 for 3, and in control of the chase. The victory was complete with 8.4 overs to spare.

The win pushed Titans to the third spot on the points table, boosting their chances for one of the two play-off places. Warriors' lie at the bottom with seven points from as many games.

Dolphins v Knights Match abandoned
Scorecard

The game between Knights and Dolphins in Pietermaritzburg was washed out without a ball being bowled. Both teams received two points each.

This is the Dolphins' third abandoned game, and this has hurt their chances of claiming a play-off spot.