Duminy has the final say at Newlands
JP DUMINY'S classy half-century carried the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras to a home RAM Slam T20 final as they beat the Chevrolet Warriors by six wickets at Sahara Park Newlands to knock their visitors out of the competition.
Duminy hit 64 not out from just 39 deliveries to ensure that the Cobras chased down a target of 147 with eight balls to spare.
That meant they finish six points ahead of the Sunfoil Dolphins, who lost their final game of the league stage against the bizhub Highveld Lions. The Warriors were left with a sense of deja vu. Having missed out on a Momentum One-Day Cup playoff by losing their final league game in that competition, they repeated the mistake yesterday.
With The Unlimited Titans beating the Chevrolet Knights, the Warriors were again pipped at the post as the Titans set up a date with the Dolphins in Durban on Wednesday.
Although the Warriors managed to get at both Beuran Hendricks and Duminy after they had won the toss and elected to bat, they were unable to put a meaningful partnership together as wickets fell throughout the innings.
Hendricks conceded 40 runs from his four overs, but also picked up three wickets to extend his record for the most scalps in a Twenty20 season – he now has 27 wickets at an average of 9.77.
Sunil Narine was economical again as he dismissed top scorer Davy Jacobs (33) and Wayne Parnell (27), but not as economical as Justin Kemp, who allowed just 11 runs off his four overs.
A score of 146 for eight looked below par on a good Newlands pitch. Once the Cobras had overcome an early hiccup in losing their openers for just 24 runs, Stiaan van Zyl (23) and Duminy constructed a 46-run stand which set them on their way.
Duminy was able to see the job through, aided by Kemp, whose 26 not out included a couple of lusty blows. The Cobras now have a week to prepare for the final, which will take place at Sahara Park Newlands next Sunday.
The Titans provided another example of their never-say-die attitude as they hammered the Chevrolet Knights by eight wickets in Kimberely to sneak into the playoffs. They pulled off a similar stunt in the Momentum One-Day Cup earlier this season.
Henry Davids's side showed impressive resolve to pull the game back after the Knights moved to 73 without loss in the 12th over.
Although Rilee Rossouw (36) and Reeza Hendricks (43) set the platform for the Knights, their dismissals led to a collapse as Saeed Ajmal took three wickets in two overs.
In the other match yesterday, the bizhub Highveld Lions registered their first win of the competition when they beat the Sunfoil Dolphins by seven runs in Johannesburg.
