Half-centuries from George Linde and Hashim Amla, and a fine bowling performance from Dane Paterson helped Cape Cobras register a 10-run victory against Warriors in the CSA T20 Challenge match at Boland Park. Having posted a competitive total of 159 for 4, Cobras managed to restrict Warriors to 149 for 8, despite a fighting half-century from Colin Ackermann, to register their third win in six games and move up to the second spot in the points table.

Warriors were set back early in the chase as Rory Kleinveldt and Paterson struck in successive overs to send back openers Gihahn Cloete and JJ Smuts cheaply. The dismissals had a direct impact on the scoring rate as Warriors could only manage 26 in the first six overs. However, Ackermann and Colin Ingram led Warriors’ revival with a 75-run partnership, which came to an end when the latter fell to Linde.

While Ackermann continued in a solid fashion, Christiaan Jonker contributed his bit with a six and two fours during his brief stay that lasted for 11 deliveries. Needing 40 to win off the last four overs, Ackermann tried to keep Warriors in the hunt as he brought up a 38-ball fifty. But Warriors veered off track a short while later as Ferisco Adams struck twice in the 18th over to dismiss Jerry Nqolo and Ackermann. A tight over from Dane Paterson followed, and he also picked up the wicket of Lesiba Ngoepe to finish with figures of 3 for 25. With 15 required in the last over, Adams kept it tidy, giving away only four runs to ensure Cobras’ victory.

Earlier, opting to bat, Cobras were off to a sedate start as Temba Bavuma took a while to get going even as Amla scored at a brisker rate. Having managed only 39 in the powerplay, Cobras injected some tempo as their innings progressed, with Amla registered a 33-ball fifty. However, wickets followed soon after, with Sisanda Magala accounting for Amla while Bavuma was out caught and bowled to Smuts for a 43-ball 42.

Linde took the responsibility of finding the boundaries although wickets at the other end didn’t help Cobras cause as both JP Duminy and Qaasim Adams fell to Andrew Birch in the 17th over. At 136 for 4 after 18, Cobras were struggling to get to the 150 mark but Linde ensured they went past it as he brought up a half-century off 29 balls and managed 16 in the final over off Basheeru-Deen Walters.

Brief scores: Cobras 159/4 in 20 overs (George Linde 52*, Hashim Amla 52; Andrew Birch 2-27) beat Warriors 149/8 in 20 overs (Colin Ackermann 55, Colin Ingram 38; Dane Paterson 3-25, Ferisco Adams 2-38) by 10 runs.

Lions vs Titans, Johannesburg

Persistent rain meant that the game at Wanderers was abandoned without a single ball being bowled. This was the second successive game in this competition involving Titans which yielded no result but their four earlier victories meant that they held on to the top position in the points table.