The Dolphins and the Warriors beat the table-topping Titans and Cobras respectively, to book their places in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge semi-finals.
The Titans received a dose of their own medicine and suffered an 89-run defeat to the Dolphins, who secured a home semi-final after stealing second spot.
The Dolphins posted 168-7, anchored by a 41-ball 67 from Morne van Wyk, and defended their total thanks to a lethal bowling performance by the Dolphins’ spinners.
Imran Tahir (2-20), Prenelan Subrayen (2-17), Keshav Maharaj (2-18) and Khaya Zondo (1-5) took the bulk of the wickets, as the Titans showed their vulnerability.
Only Heinrich Klaasen (10), Rivaldo Moonsamy (15) and Tabraiz Shamsi (15) managed to reach double figures, as the visitors were knocked out for 79 runs.
The only positive for the Titans was the was the return of Morne Morkel, who finished with two scalps for 25 runs.
The Cobras fought until the end to keep their hopes of a home semi-final alive but failed to chase down the Warriors’ 168-5 which dragged them to third on the table.
The Warriors bowlers took wickets at regular intervals to throttle the Cobras’ chase, Hashim Amla (39) and Richard Levi (31) the visitors’ top scorers as they finished on 150-6.
Colin Ingram was effective with both bat and ball, scoring a 32-ball 41 and taking 2-18, dismissing both Amla and JP Duminy (14) which killed the Cobras’ best chance of victory, rocking them at 103-4.
It was a good start from Jon-Jon Smuts (48 off 30 balls) and Ingram who recovered aggressively after Yaseen Vallie was bowled by George Linde for eight. The pair shared a 92-run second wicket stand before Mthiwekhaya Nabe grabbed Ingram’s scalp.
Linde’s spin was effective and dismissed Smuts for his second scalp, finishing on 2-39 in four overs.
In the end, it was a comfortable 18-run win for the Warriors, who secured fourth spot on the log.
Two points were not enough for the Knights who ended as bottom-feeders for a consecutive T20 Challenge campaign. Their match against the Lions in Johannesburg ended in a no result, handing two points to both sides. This ensured that both the Lions and the Knights were eliminated after the Warriors’ win against the Cobras.
Semi-Finals: The Titans will play the Warriors on Wednesday at SuperSport Park and the Dolphins will play the Cobras on Thursday at Kingsmead.
Photo: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images
