Top batting display (Gallo Images)

Durban - The Cape Cobras beat the Dolphins by 38 runs on the Duckworth Lewis method in their Standard Bank Pro20 Series second leg semi-final match at the Sahara Stadium Kingsmead in Durban on Sunday.

The Dolphins had reached 59 for five after nine overs before the rain came. Ahmed Amla and Daryn Smit were the unbeaten batsmen on eight and one respectively.

Chasing a record 192 for victory at Kingsmead, the Dolphins were in trouble from the first over when they lost Sanath Jayasuriya for a duck. Rory Kleinveldt was a relieved man as Vernon Philander took a good catch on the square leg boundary to leave the Dolphins on five for one. HD Ackerman and Hashim Amla then threatened to take the game to the Cobras but lost their way after the loss of Ackerman for 16.

Roger Telemachus struck a double blow in his first over. Ackerman was caught by Henry Davids and Grant Rowley went two balls later when he was caught by Herschelle Gibbs for one.

Hashim Amla then became the first of Claude Henderson's two victims when he was caught by Gibbs for 23. Kent followed soon for 10 when he was caught by Justin Ontong to leave the Dolphins on 57 for five.

Roger Telemachus and Claude Henderson bagged two wickets a piece.

Earlier, the Nashua Cape Cobras posted the highest Pro20 score at Kingsmead when they reached 191 for the loss of four wickets.

After being put into bat, the Cobras opening pair of Graeme Smith and Gibbs raced to 66 after six overs before losing the wicket of Smith for 33. He faced 20 balls and hit six fours before being caught by Ahmed Amla off Johann Louw.

JP Duminy then joined Gibbs but only lasted three balls. He dragged a Yusuf Abdulla slower onto his stumps to leave the Cobras on 67 for two.

Justin Ontong promoted up the order to number four then joined Gibbs who was playing brilliantly at the other end. The pair then added 74 for the third wicket off 54 balls with Ontong being the major contributor with 32 off 26 balls.

He hit three fours and a six before being bowled by Alfonso Thomas. After going to his fifty off 40 balls, Gibbs was on course to become only the third batsman in the history of domestic Pro20 cricket to score a hundred. It was not to be though, as he fell eight short after being bowled in the last over by Thomas. He faced 57 balls and hit seven fours and four sixes. Vernon Philander and Henry Davids were unbeaten on 21 and five respectively.

Thomas, with two for 28 from three overs was the pick of the bowlers for the Dolphins.

The third leg takes place at Kingsmead on Wednesday.