Bacher says no to Cobras offer

Adam Bacher has turned down the option of playing another season for the Cape Cobras and will thus, along with Alan Dawson, take his final curtain call either in this weekend's home Pro20 Series semifinal or in next weekend's final.

"We were hopeful that Adam would play another season, particularly after the way he is performing at the moment," said Western Cape franchise chief executive André Odendaal on Monday. "But he indicated on Saturday to us that would not be possible - he runs his own financial business and also has a young family - so we will have to look around during the off-season for an experienced player to replace him."

Meanwhile the Cobras are now waiting for the Cricket South Africa (CSA) announcement, expected on Tuesday, on where and when the semifinals will be played.

The most recent speculation is that the Cobras will play their home semifinal on Friday and the Lions theirs on Sunday. The Cobras match will probably also be moved back to Newlands after CSA had initially indicated that the fixture would be played at Paarl to allow more time for the Newlands pitch and outfield to be prepared for the Twenty20 World Cup in September.

CSA's own grounds committee is apparently now satisfied with the condition of Newlands and there is no doubt that the sponsors will want the semifinal to be played at a Test match venue as well.

The Cobras will only find out who their opponents will be after Wednesday's last round of league matches. The Lions are away to the Warriors and the Titans at home to the Dolphins.

Victory for both the home sides will bring the Warriors to Cape Town as the third-placed side and send the champion Eagles to the Wanderers in the other semifinal.

The Titans need to win and also the Lions to do them a favour to get back into the running. The Dolphins simply have to win to make the last four, regardless of what happens elsewhere.