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Standard Bank Pro20 round-up
Dolphins win but miss out on semi-final
Keith Lane
February 5, 2006
At Potchefstroom the Dolphins beat the Lions by three wickets but failed to reach the semi-finals in the highest scoring match of the season.
The Dolphins, needing the win and the bonus point to qualify for the
semi-finals, put the Lions in to bat. Taking full advantage of the excellent batting pitch the Lions scored 190 as Andy Blignaut blasted away, from the solid platform set by the top order, to strike 61 not out off 28 balls with three fours and five sixes. Earlier
the top order had made a solid start with Stephen Cook scoring 45 off
31. Zahir Abrahim took 3 for 40 but it was Jon Kent with 1 for 22 who
was the most impressive.
Needing to score 191 off 16 overs to gain the bonus point, the Dolphins
were on course during the first eight overs but the task of maintaining 12 runs per
over became too onerous. Two quick wickets in the middle of the
innings - and then the loss of Lance Klusener - saw the semi-final spot
disappear as they reached 170 after the 16 overs. Kent made sure of the
win, in 18 overs, as he scored 32 not out. Adam Bacher bowled cleverly, mixing it up in the middle of the innings and deservedly picking up 3 for 23.
At Paarl the Cobras blew away every chance of a home semi-final when they failed to chase down a mediocre target of 121 set by the Eagles. All the hard work had been done by the Cobras' bowlers as they restricted the Eagles to 120. Three wickets each for
Alan Dawson and Rory Kleinveldt kept the pressure on the Eagles with
Loots Bosman (34) and Ryan Bailey (30) the main contributors.
The Cobras' batting failed dismally as Cliff Deacon took the first three
wickets for 17 in his opening four overs. The loss of JP Duminy, and needing 67 off eight overs proved too much, however, as the Cobras ended on 111 for 6, with a disappointed Thami Tsolekile finishing unbeaten on 33.
Keith Lane works for Cricinfo in South Africa
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