Willoughby haul hands Cobras the edge

Charl Willoughby bowled the Cape Cobras back into contention against the Dolphins with 6 for 41, his best figures of the season. The Dolphins were heading for a useful first innings lead when they reached 212 for 5 but lost their last five wickets for two runs. Rivash Gobind anchored the top order with an accomplished 93, before he was the ninth man out in the middle of Willoughby's destructive spell. With an unexpected lead of two runs, the Cobras made confident progress in the final hour as Andrew Puttick and Derrin Bassage reached 41 without loss.

Nicky Boje enjoyed a fine all round day to keep the Eagles in touch against the Titans at Bloemfontein. Firstly, he was instrumental in the Titans' collapse from 327 for 4 to 339 all out. Boje finished with 7 for 75 in 36.5 overs, while Martin van Jaarsveld top-scored with 145. In reply the Eagles built a series of useful partnerships but were unable to keep any of them intact. Jacques Rudolph hit 70 with ten boundaries, then Boje produced a pugnacious half-century after they had slipped to 212 for 5 as the left-arm spinner Paul Harris took three wickets.

Honours were even between the Lions and the Warriors at East London as Alviro Petersen stroked a powerful 96 and was well supported by half centuries from Justin Ontong and Vaughn van Jaarsveld. Petersen and Ontong added 89 for the second wicket as the Lions ate into the Warriors' 357. Earlier, Steven Pope had reached his first century of the season, off 225 balls, adding a useful 54 for the ninth wicket with Lyall Meyer.