Port Elizabeth - The Warriors clinched their third win of the Ram Slam T20 Challenge when they beat the Cape Cobras by six wickets with three balls to spare at St George's Park on Wednesday.

Set 130 for victory, Englishman Samit Patel (34) and Adrian McLaren (36 not out) shared a 63-run stand for the fourth wicket to ensure that the Warriors pulled themselves up into the playoffs spots in third position at the halfway stage of the competition.

Pakistani all-rounder Azhar Mahmood bowled with great control for the Cobras in taking two wickets for 20 including the scalps of both openers Ashwell Prince (21) and Christiaan Jonker (27).

Full scorecard

But the Cobras had just not managed to score enough runs and were eventually outplayed by an efficient home team.

Patel, batting at number four, cracked a match-winning innings off only 24 balls while McLaren contributed a mature, unbeaten cameo off 34 deliveries.

The Warriors, playing without injured stars Davy Jacobs and Rusty Theron, got off to a solid start thanks to a first wicket partnership of 42 in 35 balls between Jonker and Prince. Jonker's blitz came off 20 balls and included six boundaries while Prince played a more sedate role for his 21.

The solid start came undone when Jonker, Prince and Colin Ingram (3) were dismissed within 10 runs of each other to reduce the Warriors to 53 for three in 10 overs.

But the 63-run stand between Patel and McLaren was enough to see them to their third win in five matches.

Earlier, the Cobras won the toss and opted to bat and would have questioned their decision from the outset.

Warriors seamer Andrew Birch once again struck early with the new ball after Stiaan van Zyl (4) was brilliantly run out by a direct hit from Aya Gqamane in the second over.

Two balls later Birch had dangerman Richard Levi (6) caught in a legside trap by Christiaan Jonker at deep square leg.

Birch was at it again in his second over when he had Owais Shah caught by another Englishman Patel at backward point and the Cobras had slipped to 13 for three early in the fourth over.

The situation required a partnership for the Cobras and the experienced pair of Justin Ontong and Dane Vilas took up the challenge.

They rotated the strike well and punished the odd loose delivery as they dug the visitors out of the hole they had found themselves in.

They shared a partnership of 75 for the fourth wicket off 69 balls before Ontong became the fourth man out for a well-played 41 when he walked past a delivery from off-spinner Simon Harmer and was bowled. He faced 36 balls and stroked four fours and a six.

Vilas lost his wicket for 35 soon after that to Aya Gqamane and Cobras slid to 95 for five. Birch finished with two for 25 but most economical bowler on the night was Wayne Parnell who collected two for 19.

Teams:

Warriors: Andrew Birch, Aya Gqamane, Simon Harmer, Colin Ingram (capt), Christiaan Jonker, Adrian McLaren, Wayne Parnell, Samit Patel, Ashwell Prince, Kelly Smuts, Craig Thyssen

Cobras: Qaasim Adams, Azhar Mahmood, Beuran Hendricks, Charl Langeveldt, Richard Levi, Justin Ontong (capt), Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Owais Shah, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas