Cobras secure home semi

The Cape Cobras gained a home semifinal in the Standard Bank Pro 20 Series next Sunday when the Dolphins failed to complete back-to-back victories at the weekend.

The Dolphins beat the Cape side by one run in a rain-affected nail-biter in Durban on Friday night, but yesterday's defeat by 15 runs against the Diamond Eagles in Bloemfontein means they can no longer catch the Cobras in second place.

Just whom the Cobras will face in the semifinals remains to be seen as the third and fourth positions on the log will go right down to the last round of league matches on Wednesday, when the Titans play the Dolphins in Benoni and the Warriors host the table-topping Lions in Port Elizabeth.

The Lions have 16 points, followed by the Cobras (12), Eagles (9), Dolphins (6), Warriors (6) and Titans (4). From this it can be seen that all six sides have a chance of making the last four.

Sunday's heroes for the Eagles were Morné van Wyk, who made yet another half-century and thus became not only the leading run-scorer this season but the leading run-scorer in the history of the competition, and Johan van der Wath, whose four-over return of 2/8 equalled the most economical bowling performance.

Morné van Vuuren was the pick of the Dolphins in bowling and batting. He conceded only 16 runs in his four overs and then made top score of 38 off 31 balls.

The key difference between the sides was in the field, where the home side were far quicker in the outfield and cut several twos down to singles, an important aspect in a tight finish.

In the end the Dolphins needed 27 off the last over and, even with Lance Klusener at the crease, it proved beyond them.