Death-over skills put Dolphins in final

The death-over skills of Dolphins bowlers Andile Phehlukwayo and Dwayne Bravo helped the side seal a tense, five-run win in the Ram Slam T20 semi-final against Cape Cobras. Dolphins will now play Titans in the final on December 12.

Cape Cobras needed 18 off the last three overs but Phehlukwayo and Bravo choked off the runs and chipped away at the wickets. Between them, Phehlukwayo and Bravo gave away nine runs and took two wickets in the 18th and 19th overs to bring the equation to nine off the last over. Phehlukwayo then turned the match decisively for Dolphins - after Justin Ontong was run-out for 9, the fast bowler dismissed Dane Paterson and followed up with two dot balls to lift Dolphins into the final.

Before their slump at the death - they managed only 24 runs in their last five overs for the loss of five wickets - Cape Cobras had looked in control for most of the chase, thanks to Richard Levi's 43-ball 85 which included six fours and seven sixes. Levi took the lead in the 83-run opening partnership with Wayne Parnell, slamming 16 runs off the first over. The pair then scored 21 runs off left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, putting the side at a strong 77 for 0 at the end of the Powerplay. Parnell fell in the seventh over after but Levi - who brought up his fifty off 20 deliveries - kept the chase on track before being dismissed in the 14th over.

In the first innings, Dolphins' top four shone after captain Morne van Wyk opted to bat. Openers van Wyk and Cameron Delport posted a 99-run opening stand within 12 overs. Both batsmen scored brisk fifties: Delport's 37-ball 55 included four fours and as many sixes, while van Wyk scored 57 off 49 balls with six fours and a six. Once they were dismissed, David Miller and Kevin Pietersen provided a surge that helped Dolphins score 63 off the last five overs. Miller slammed two sixes and a four in his 24-ball 33 while Pietersen chipped in with a 10-ball 27.