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Durban - Beuran Hendricks continued his rich run of form with his four wickets proving key as the top-of-the-table Cape Cobras eased to a 25-run victory over the Dolphins in their domestic RAM SLAM T20 Challenge match at Kingsmead on Sunday.
The left-armer finished with four for 32, while West Indian import Sunil Narine claimed two for 24 to restrict the hosts to 132 for eight in pursuit of 158 with Daryn Smit top-scoring with 48 off 36 balls.
Earlier, JP Duminy blasted 56 off 41 and shared in a crucial partnership off 88 from 59 with Justin Ontong (37 off 25) after the Cobras had won the toss and batted first.
The Capetonians were in trouble early on after the losses of Hashim Amla (one) - bowled on his second ball upon his first return to Durban for his new franchise - as well as Stiaan van Zyl (14) and Richard Levi (22).
But the stand between captain Ontong and Duminy changed things as they put on 50 in just 31 balls, followed by the 100 coming up rather patiently in the 15th over.
After the loss of the skipper, Proteas ace Duminy upped the tempo towards the death and along with national team-mate Vernon Philander (16 off six) helped the Cape side set reach 157 for seven.
The reply was wretched by the home side as Hendricks struck with the first two legal deliveries after starting out with a leg-side wide.
The competition's leading wicket-taker first had Morné van Wyk tamely pulling to deep square leg Aviwe Mgijima followed by Cameron Delport swatting straight to Narine at mid-off - both openers falling for ducks.
Hendricks returned in his next over to send Cody Chetty (two) on his way, caught at third man, while further wickets of Vaughn van Jaarsveld (17) and the key man David Miller (13) saw the host slump to 46 for five.
That brought together Smit and Khaya Zondo (34 off 25), and while they were in, the Dolphins' victory hopes were dramatically raised.
They added 75 off 54 balls together for the sixth wicket to take their side to 121 for six by the end of the 17th over and needing 37 off 18 balls.
But Narine ended any hopes of victory when he sent down a double wicket maiden in the 18th over as the Cobras wrapped up the win to move nine points clear at the summit.
