The Nashua Cape Cobras advanced to the final of the Standard Bank Pro20 Series courtesy of a victory in the super over against the Nashua Dolphins in Durban on Wednesday.

The 12 000 spectators at Kingsmead were rooted to their seats as the match ended in a thrilling tie with both teams scoring 148.

The Dolphins batted first in the super over and were immediately in trouble when Sanath Jayasuriya was bowled off the first ball by Charl Langeveldt. Daryn Smit then joined Johan Louw and could only manage another three runs before being caught by JP Duminy on the boundary.

Needing four runs from their over, the Cobras added another twist to this enthralling match when Jayasuriya ran out Graeme Smith off the first ball. However, Herschelle Gibbs hit a four two balls later to win the match for the Cobras.

Earlier, the Dolphins needed 17 runs to win off the last over after restricting the Cobras to 148. After scoring 10 off the first five balls, they needed seven off the last ball. Johann Louw then promptly hit the last ball for a six, to tie the match.

Louw kept the Dolphins in the game after the Dolphins had slumped to 132 for eight. He made 48 (4x4's, 2x6's) off 26 balls. The Dolphins got off to the worse possible start when they lost HD Ackerman and Jayasuriya within the first two overs.

Hashim Amla with 35 and Jon Kent with 32 brought the Dolphins slowly back into the game before the pair went in successive balls in the 13th over. Amla was caught by Duminy and Kent stumped by Andrew Puttick to give Claude Henderson two wickets in two balls. The Dolphins then lost regular wickets until the Louw onslaught.

Langeveldt with four for 20 and Henderson with three for 23 were the main wicket-takers for the Cobras.

After winning the toss and deciding to bat first, the Nashua Cape Cobras were in early trouble. Jayasuriya, who surprisingly bowled the second over, struck immediately when Herschelle Gibbs was stumped by Daryn Smit for one.

JP Duminy then joined his skipper Graeme Smith and the pair added 50 for the second wicket before Smith dragged a delivery from Daryn Smit onto his stumps. Smith made 34 (4x4's, 1x6) off 31 balls. Justin Ontong then joined Duminy with the score on 55. The pair put on a third wicket partnership of 73 with Ontong the more aggressive of the two.

He outscored his partner before being bowled by Alfonso Thomas for 44 (2x4's, 3x6's) off 32 balls. Kleinveldt then came in at number five and only lasted seven balls before becoming Thomas' second victim when he was brilliantly caught by Jayasuriya for 14.

Duminy then went to his 50 in the last over of the innings off 44 balls. He finished on an unbeaten 53 (3x4's, 2x6's).

Thomas ended with figures of two for fourteen from three overs.

The Nashua Cape Cobras host the Gestetner Diamond Eagles in the final at Newlands on Saturday.

Sapa

RSS
Digg
de.li.cious
facebook