Cobras clinch home final with win

David Miller's unbeaten 42 helped Dolphins to their third win of the season, after their bowlers had done well to restrict Lions on a sluggish surface at Chevrolet Park. Lions, having been inserted, lost wickets at regular intervals during their innings, and their highest run scorer was Chris Morris with 37 down at No.7. Morris struck three sixes and a four during his 22-ball knock, but no batsman stayed long enough at the other end for Lions to string together a significant partnership. Robbie Frylinck and Dwayne Bravo picked up two wickets apiece, while Prenelan Subrayen, Ryan McLaren and Craig Alexander chipped in with a scalp each.

Dolphins lost the openers early in the chase, but Khaya Zondo (28) and Miller led a recovery with a 54-run stand for the third wicket. The team lost two more quick wickets, but Miller stayed not out till the end, and was aided by a useful 19 from Bravo at the other end, as Dolphins eventually won by five wickets with five balls to spare.

A fifty from the opener Richard Levi and a three-wicket haul from Robin Peterson were the cornerstones behind Cape Cobras' eight-run victory against Knights in Bloemfontein. The win meant that Cobras will stay on top of the table, and will host the final at the Newlands on December 12. Opting to bat, Cobras began brightly, as Levi put up half-century stands for the first two wickets with Andrew Puttick and Omphile Ramela (34). Levi stayed on till the penultimate over, striking two fours and sixes each during his 61-ball 64 to guide Cobras to 145 for 4.

Knights began their chase steadily, but were rocked by four wickets in the space of four overs, and fell to 59 for 4 by the 11th over. Rudi Second led a recovery, whacking a 33-ball 50 with three fours and two sixes, and Tumelo Bodibe hit 30, but Knights' run-rate was kept in check by incisive bowling from Dane Paterson, George Linde and Peterson. Knights needed 18 from the final over, but could manage only nine, meaning they lost their third game of the season.

The Warriors bowlers delivered a 20-run consolation win in Bloemfontein. Titans had built a solid base with openers Heino Kuhn and Henry Davids knocking off 75 of the target of 149, but the rest of the line-up crumbled.

Rusty Theron and Yaseen Vallie picked up four wickets and conceded only 19 runs in their six overs to ensure the Titans middle-order could not take advantage of a strong start. Only one other player besides the openers could reach double-figures as Titans ended their campaign at the bottom of the table, with only two wins from 10 matches.

Warriors' batting had struggled as well. They lost three wickets in the Powerplay before Colin Ingram provided some stability with 40 off 44 balls. Fast bowler Marchant de Lange was the primary threat, as he finished with a career-best 4 for 31. His spell may well have decided the match had Christiaan Jonker not smashed 49 off 29 balls, with two fours and three sixes. Warriors had been 114 for 5 at the end of the 17th over, but they carted 31 in the next three to give their bowlers the momentum they needed.