Port Elizabeth - The Cape Cobras will bring the much-yearned-for SuperSport Series trophy back to Cape Town after they beat the Warriors by an innings and 117 runs in their last match at Sahara Park St George's in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

The Warriors batsmen, who did so well under the harsh glare of limited-overs cricket, succumbed for just 142 all out in their second innings, with Robin Peterson happily spinning his way through the lower-order to finish with five for 41 in his final year as a local player, having recently signed a Kolpak contract.

Craig Thyssen provided the only telling resistance for the Warriors, his 45 runs coming in nearly two hours. His innings was a mixture of defence and aggression and he broke the yolks imposed by the bowlers by slamming three sixes.

It was Peterson who eventually dismissed him, having Thyssen caught in the covers as he miscued another big hit.

Justin Kreusch hung around for 74 minutes in scoring 16, but the tail came and went quickly. Adrian Birch (14) was castled by Rory Kleinveldt, Garnett Kruger (nought) elected to go down guns blazing and skied Peterson to backward point, and Lonwabo Tsotsobe (nought) was stumped off the same bowler.

The Warriors batsmen have failed to get into gear in this season's SuperSport Series, registering the second fewest batting bonus points, and they barely fired a shot in anger in this match, Thyssen's 45 being their highest score.

There was nothing phoney about the class of the Cobras bowlers, however, with Johann Louw taking two for 51 in 12 overs and Kleinveldt two for 33 in 14 to support Peterson.

The Warriors had dug themselves another hole as they crashed to 100 for five at lunch, seeking to make up a first-innings deficit of 259 runs.

Captain Davey Jacobs (26) suffered the dismissal all batsmen hate, shouldering arms to Kleinveldt and then seeing the ball dart back to knock over off stump.

Colin Ingram (29) was also out in most frustrating fashion as he pulled a long-hop from left-arm spinner Peterson, but he managed to pick out Henry Davids on the midwicket boundary.

Arno Jacobs (nought) committed the sin of dabbling outside off stump as he edged Louw through to wicketkeeper Ryan Canning, while Jon-Jon Smuts (six) pushed forward to the same bowler, was struck on the roll and given out lbw.

The Warriors innings was then brought to its knees when Alistair Gray took a sharp catch at first slip when Michael Smith (five) edged Vernon Philander.

Stiaan van Zyl put the Cobras in their commanding position when he scored a superb 167 not out to take them to 369 all out.

Philander, something of a forgotten force although he is the leading wicket-taker in this year's competition, claimed five for 40 as the Warriors were shot out for 110 in their first innings.

Teams

Warriors:
Jon-Jon Smuts, Michael Smith, Colin Ingram, Arno Jacobs, Craig Thyssen, Davey Jacobs, Justin Kreusch, Adrian Birch, Corbyn Dolley, Garnett Kruger, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

Cape Cobras:
Andrew Puttick, Alistair Gray, Henry Davids, Stiaan van Zyl, Justin Ontong, Richard Levi, Ryan Canning, Vernon Philander, Robbie Peterson, Rory Kleinveldt, Johann Louw