JP Duminy’s heroic 67 handed the Cobras a three-wicket win against the Knights to keep their Ram Slam T20 campaign alive.
Home is where the heart is, and the Cobras proved this by backing up their win against the Lions at Boland Park on Friday with a consecutive home Ram Slam victory against the Knights.
The fans turned up at the Cape Town ground to witness the Proteas players on show, and both sides fielded star attractions to satisfy the loyal Newlands fans.
The Cobras chose to field and it was the home side who added the first round of pressure, knocking over the Knights’ openers. Leus du Plooy was first to go for 16, followed by Grant Makoena, who lost his scalp for 13.
The visitors found themselves on 66 by the fall of the second wicket, Theunis de Bruyn covering up a poor start by the Knights. The skipper managed a 22-ball 40 before Rory Kleinveldt got his second, after removing Makoena in the ninth over.
David Miller put on an expected display, smashing two sixes and three fours to reach his 25th T20 half-century before Kleinveldt struck again for his third.
The Cobras all-rounder was the star figure with the ball, finishing with 3-19 in his four overs.
Ryan McLaren struck a cameo 31 to take the Knights to 159-5 in their 20 overs.
The Cobras’ batting performance was woeful once again, as Duminy was left to save his side from defeat in front of their home supporters.
Hashim Amla was the only other batter in the top six to post a half-decent score as the hosts lost six wickets for 108 runs.
Duminy carried his side, hitting eight fours and a six for his 44-ball 66, before he was controversially given lbw just one run away from victory.
Vernon Philander (22 off 11 balls) contributed with three vital fours, one in the 16th over and two in the 18th as he helped his captain shift the Cobras into a winning position.
With Duminy back in the dugout, and the hosts needing one run off seven balls, Kleinveldt hit a boundary to hand the Cobras a three-wicket win.
Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix
