The Cape Cobras responded from their mauling on Friday evening with a hard-fought three-wicket victory over the Dolphins in their Momentum One-Day Cup clash at the Pietermaritzburg Oval on Sunday.
Having conceded a record 400 against the Titans at Newlands, the Cobras bowlers were still raw and it showed, with Dolphins openers Morné van Wyk (111) and Vaughn van Jaarsveld (54) inflicting further damage with a 90-run opening stand.
But even though Van Wyk went on to register his 24th List A century, the Cobras bowling unit worked themselves back into the contest by taking regular wickets.
A senior bowler needed to lead the way and it was former Proteas Test seamer Rory Kleinveldt who took on the responsibility to claim 4/48, which helped to restrict the Dolphins to 256/8.
After delivering with the ball, Kleinveldt followed it up with a heroic performance with the bat too. With the Cobras requiring 10 runs off the final over, the burly seamer clubbed his former teammate Mthokozisi Shezi for a four and a six off the first two deliveries to take the Western Cape side home.
Kleinveldt finished with 26 not out off just 15 balls, and had great support from wicket-keeper Dane Vilas, who finished on 47 not out.
The duo produced the finishing touches after Cobras openers Richard Levi and Omphile Ramela had begun the run-chase in a positive manner.
Levi clubbed 52 off only 35 balls (7x4, 3x6) that provided the early momentum, with Ramela contributing a solid 62 off 90 balls (6x4). It was Ramela’s second consecutive half-century of the campaign.