Cobras outplay Dolphins

Durban - The Nashua Cape Cobras beat the Nashua Dolphins by 66 runs in their MTN40 match at the Sahara Stadium Kingsmead in Durban on Wednesday.

Set a target of 301, the Dolphins got off to the worse possible start in pursuit of 301 when Loot Bosman was run out for a duck. Ahmed Amla and Imraan Khan followed soon to leave the Dolphins on 25 for three before a fourth wicket partnership of 166 off 134 balls between Dale Benkenstein and David Miller threatened to take the Dolphins close, but the loss of three wickets for four runs ended any hopes the Dolphins had of getting close.

Benkenstein was the first to go when he was caught behind by Puttick of Francois Plaatjiies for 76 (60 balls, 5x4’s, 2x6’s) in the 29th over. Miller fell in the next over when he was caught by Charl Langeveldt off Rory Kleinveldt for 86 (75 balls 8x4’s, 4x6’s). Cameron Delport was run out three balls later for four. At that stage, the Dolphins went from 191 for four to 195 for six.

The last four wickets then fell for 39 runs with four overs left, as the Dolphins were bowled out for 234.

Kleinveldt was the pick of the bowlers for the Cobras with four for 25 from six overs and four balls.

Earlier, the Cobras made 300 for three after winning the toss and batting first. After losing the early wicket of Andrew Puttick for 10, they then accelerated through brilliant partnerships by Stiaan van Zyl and Herschelle Gibbs and then Gibbs and Justin Kemp.

Van Zyl and Gibbs hit boundaries at will as they put on 156 off 141 balls for the second wicket. Van Zyl batted beautifully and punished anything wayward while Gibbs rode his luck after being dropped twice, first by Imraan Khan when he had six and then by Cameron Delport with his score on 19.

Van Zyl brought up his hundred in the 28th over. He faced 90 balls (12 x 4’s and 2 x 6’s) before being bowled by Andrew Hall with his score on 101.

Kemp then joined Gibbs and added 112 for the third wicket. Gibbs went to his hundred with a six off 87 balls (8x4’s, 4x6’s). Kemp faced 32 balls for his 46 runs (2x4’s, 3x6’s) before being brilliantly caught by Miller on the mid-on boundary for 46 off the second last ball of the innings.

Justin Ontong faced the last ball and promptly dispatched it for four. While man of the match Gibbs, remained unbeaten on 121 (98 balls, 8x4’s, 6x6’s).