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Johannesburg - Defending champions the Cape Cobras kept their cricket title hopes alive with a nailbiting one-run win over T20 Challenge log leaders the Highveld Lions in Cape Town on Friday night.
Spin bowler Alistair Gray led the way as the Lions lost four wickets for nine runs in a middle-order collapse that ultimately cost them victory.
Chasing 181 runs to win, the Lions got off to an explosive start with opener Jonathan Vandiar and Quinton de Kock sharing 83 runs for the second wicket.
Vandiar smashed 59 from 38 deliveries and De Kock contributed 34 off 24 before Gray took control.
The spinner returned 3/20, and while Lions skipper Thami Tsolekile and Chris Martin put up a fighting 42-run stand for the seventh wicket, the visitors were held to 179/6.
Morris struck 32 not out off 15 balls and Tsolekile made an unbeaten 17 from 12. While Morris thumped 18 runs off Charl Langeveldt's last over, the Lions fell narrowly short of their seventh win in the competition.
Owais Shah and Dane Vilas had shared an unbeaten century stand, carrying the Cobras to 180/3 after they were sent in to bat.
The hosts were reduced to 52/3 in the 10th over, but Shah smashed 79 runs off 44 balls and Vilas hit 49 from 31 to forge a defiant recovery, combining in a 128-run partnership.
The Lions retained the top spot in the standings, despite their loss, while the Cobras kept their campaign alive in a tight contest for three places in the playoffs.
