Scorching Petersen puts Titans in semi-finals

Titans 208/6 (Peterson 80, Zondeki 3-34) beat Cape Cobras 189 (Kleinveldt 54*, Morne Morkel 4-41) by 19 runs
Scorecard

At Boland Park, Paarl, the Titans dominance of the Standard Bank Cup was evident as they made sure of a home semi-final place by comfortably beating the Cape Cobras by 19 runs. With the Titans still having to play a game against the Dolphins they look assured of also ending on top of the table.

The Titans innings once again got off to a good start on the slow Paarl pitch as Alviro Petersen, as hot as the out-of-control mountain fires around Paarl, scored freely in his 80 from 87 balls. His dominance was evident from a 56-run partnership with Martin van Jaarsveld who only contributed 18. With the innings seemingly going away from the Cobras, Monde Zondeki responded well by taking 3 for 34 and was instrumental in restricting the Titans to 208 for 6.

On a slow pitch, and having only scored more than 200 runs on three occasions this season, the target of 209 was always going to be a difficult one for the under-performing home team. Steady starts were made by the top order but it was Morne Morkel, brother of Albie, who made the in-roads into the Cobras batting as he took 3 for 35 in a first spell of seven overs. At 95 for 7 the Cobras looked set to lose the bonus point, but an 80-run partnership between Rory Kleinveldt (54 not out) and Wallace Albertyn (35), playing his first Standard Bank Cup game for the Cape franchise, took them past the 167 needed. However, once Morkel claimed Albertyn, his fourth wicket, it was downhill for the Cobras, being bowled out for 189 in 41.5 overs.