Dolphins and Titans scrape through

Dolphins 218 for 7 (Watson 74) beat Eagles 208 for 9 (Deacon 50, Abrahim 3-38) by 10 runs
Scorecard

At the Goodyear Park in Bloemfontein the Dolphins leapt up the ladder with a victory by 10 runs over the Eagles.

After winning the toss, the Dolphins totalled a conservative 218 for 7 thanks to a patient 74 from opener Doug Watson. Dale Benkenstein helped with 34 off 37 balls while Lance Klusener was once again unbeaten after a power-packed 32. It was the sixth time in seven innings that he remained unbeaten.

The failure of Morne van Wyk and Jonathan Beukus caused a ripple effect. Half-way through the innings, the Eagles were 100 for 6 before a concerted effort from from Cliff Deacon (57) and Ryan Bailey (39) gave them a whiff of victory. However, they could not avert the narrow defeat.

Titans 215 for 7 (Bodi 112*) beat Lions 213 for 7 (Ackerman 71, Ontong 50) by 2 runs
Scorecard

Goolam Bodi's unbeaten 112 - his highest score - helped the Titans scrape through by two runs against the Lions at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.

Sent in to bat, the Titans faltered before Bodi and Justin Kemp put on 103 for the third wicket. Bodi batted through the innings while Kemp scored an uncharacteristically sedate 41. At 156 for 3, with less than ten overs to go, the Titans raised the pace and put on 59 to end on 215 for 7.

The Lions limped to 82 for 3 before HD Ackerman resurrected the innings with his 71, off 93 balls. Then Justin Ontong, recently discarded by the national selectors, brought the Lions even closer to victory, scoring a rapid 61. When Vaughn van Jaarsveld fell cheaply, the heat turned up a notch. But panic set in the ranks and two wickets fell, to leave the Lions just short, on 213 for 7.