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Cobras in miracle run chase

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Owais Shah
Owais Shah
Centurian – The Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras advanced to the Standard Bank Pro20 final as a record- run-chase saw them to a five-wicket win over the Nashua Titans in their Standard Bank Pro20 semi-final second leg at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Wednesday.
  
Half-centuries from Richard Levi, Dane Vilas and Owais Shah helped the Cobras to a mammoth 224 for five with two balls of their innings remaining, in reply to the Titans’ 222 for four, the highest successful run chase in Pro20 history and the second highest total overall, just behind the 225 for six, scored by the Diamond Eagles (now Chevrolet Knights) in the 2004/5 season.
  
Levi scored a dashing 60 off 31 balls while Vilas weighed in with 53 as the duo combined for a second-wicket stand of 92 off just 48 deliveries.
   
The pair set the stage for Shah, who belted his way to 64 off 34 deliveries before falling in the penultimate over of the match.
   
The win secures the Cobras a home final against the Chevrolet Warriors on March 18, after the Western Cape franchise beat the Titans by eight wickets in the first leg of the semi-final series.
   
The Titans looked to have put themselves in prime position to win the match thanks to a record-equalling fifty from Albie Morkel.
   
Morkel was at his belligerent best as he romped to 71 not out off 38 balls.
   
The left-hander blasted six fours and six sixes during his innings as he brought up his half-century off just 19 balls, to equal the record for the fastest Pro20 fifty, scored by Martin van Jaarsveld for the Titans against the Highveld Lions during the 2006/7 season.
   
Morkel’s effort managed to overshadow a devastating knock of 69 off 33 balls from Farhaan Behardien which has helped rescue the Titans’ innings after the home side had slipped to nine for two.
   
David Weise then weighed in with an unbeaten 30 off 10 deliveries as he and Morkel plundered 72 runs off four overs for an unbroken fifth-wicket stand.
   
Both teams took full advantage of a perfect batting wicket as 26 sixes were struck during the match, a world record for twenty20 cricket.

Master Blaster batsman: Owais Shah

Master Blaster bowler: Albie Morkel

CLICK HERE for the full scorecard
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