Rusty Theron captured four wickets to lead the Chevrolet Warriors to a hard-fought nine-run victory over the Nashua Cape Cobras in their MTN40 semifinal at Boland Bank Park in Paarl on Friday.
 
Half-centuries from a belligerent Jacques Kallis and Justin Kreusch had helped the Warriors to a daunting 274 for four.

 In reply, the Cobras could only manage 265 for eight with fast bowler Theron returning figures of four for 48 off eight overs to derail the home side’s run chase.

The Cobras had looked in with a chance at victory thanks to 71 off 55 deliveries from their skipper Justin Kemp.

However, with the score on 220 for five in the 35th over Kemp was trapped leg-before by Theron.

The speedster struck again four balls later when he had Rory Kleinveldt (0) caught behind before the 24-year-old bowler claimed the last wicket to fall when he had Justin Ontong (24) caught at deep midwicket in the penultimate over of the match.

Andrew Puttick had given the Cobras a good start with a quick fire 41 off 38 balls after the early loss of Graeme Smith (9).

But the left-handed Puttick became Theron’s first victim when he fended a short ball to backward point.

Herschelle Gibbs (19) flattered to deceive before JP Duminy (40) and Kemp combined for a fourth-wicket partnership of 60.

Duminy fell in the pursuit of quick runs when he was bowled by paceman Makhaya Ntini while Robin Peterson chipped in with 24.

Vernon Philander, with 23 not out off 14 balls, took the Cobras close but in the end the Warriors bowling attack held their nerve.

Left-arm swing bowler Wayne Parnell deserved credit for his return of one for 43 off eight overs as he bowled predominantly during the batting powerplays and at the end of the innings.

Earlier, opening batsman Kreusch compiled 60 off 59 deliveries while Proteas stalwart Kallis bashed his way to 73 not out off a mere 55 balls as the Warriors plundered 67 runs off the last five overs of their innings.

Kreusch reached his third fifty of the tournament off 41 balls before he was run out at the keeper’s end after a throw from Gibbs at short cover.

Kallis made a measured start to his knock but he was soon into his stride as he brought up his fifty, off 43 balls, by hooking a delivery from seamer Philander down to the fine leg boundary for four.

The 34-year-old batsman eventually struck six fours and two sixes in his innings and he and Davey Jacobs were responsible for the late flurry of runs as their unbroken fifth-wicket partnership produced 111 runs off 75 balls.

Warriors captain Jacobs played his part in the stand to perfection as the right-hander smashed his way to an undefeated 47 off 34 balls.

The Warriors, after winning the toss and electing to bat on a pitch which offered very little assistance to the bowlers were given a flying start thanks to the opening pair of Kreusch and Ashwell Prince (48).

The duo combined for 104 runs off 95 deliveries before the left-handed Prince tried to hit off-spinner Duminy out of the ground only to be caught at long-off.

Kreusch’s dismissal, in the 22nd over, signalled the start of a minor collapse as the visitors lost three wickets for 38 runs with Ingram (35) and Mark Boucher (3) the other men to fall.

Left-arm spinner Robin Peterson was by some way the most impressive Cobras’ bowler on show as the 30-year-old returned figures of one for 30 off seven overs.

Teams

Nashua Cape Cobras - Graeme Smith, Andrew Puttick (wk), Herschelle Gibbs, JP Duminy, Justin Kemp (capt), Justin Ontong, Stiaan van Zyl, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Rory Kleinveldt, Charl Langeveldt, Francois Plaatjies.

Chevrolet Warriors - Ashwell Prince, Justin Kreusch, Jacques Kallis, Colin Ingram, Mark Boucher (wk), Davey Jacobs (capt), Johan Botha, Nicky Boje, Rusty Theron, Wayne Parnell, Makhaya Ntini, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

The scoreboard of the MTN40 semifinal between the Cape Cobras and the Warriors at Boland Park, Paarl, on Friday is:

Toss: Warriors

Warriors innings

J Kreusch run out (Gibbs/Puttick) 60

A Prince c Smith b Duminy 48

C Ingram c Kleinveldt b Peterson 35

J Kallis not out 73

M Boucher c Gibbs b Kleinveldt 3

D Jacobs not out 47

Extras (1 b, 2 lb, 3 w, 2 nb) 8

Total (for 4 wickets) 274 (40 overs)

Fall of wickets: 1-104, 2-125, 3-159, 4-163,

Bowling: C Langeveldt 8-0-47-0 (1w, 1 nb), R Kleinveldt 8-0-69-1, V Philander 4-0-34-0, F Plaatjies 5-0-43-0 (1w), JP Duminy 8-0-48-1 (1w), RPeterson 7-0-30-1

Cape Cobras innings (target: 275 runs from 40 overs)

A Puttick c Ingram b Theron 41

G Smith c Boje b Tsotsobe 9

H Gibbs c Kreusch b Botha 19

JP Duminy b Ntini 40

J Kemp lbw b Theron 71

R Peterson c Theron b Parnell 24

J Ontong c Ingram b Theron 24

R Kleinveldt c Boucher b Theron 0

V Philander not out 23

S Van Zyl not out 3

Extras (3 lb, 8 w) 11

Total (for 8 wickets) 265 (40 overs)

Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-62, 3-77, 4-137, 5-183, 6-220, 7-222, 8-248

Bowling: M Ntini 7-0-60-1, L Tsotsobe 6-1-35-1 (1w), J Theron 8-0-48-4 (2w),W Parnell 8-0-43-1 (1w), J Botha 7-0-50-1 (1w), N Boje 4-0-26-0 (1w)

Result: Warriors won by 9 runs