Durban – Richard Levi clubbed an aggressive half century as the Cape Cobras claimed a convincing seven-wicket victory over the Dolphins in their rain-reduced domestic T20 Challenge clash at Kingsmead, in Durban, on Friday.
The right-hander smashed two sixes and seven fours in his 54 from 27 balls as the visitors cruised to their victory target with four balls to spare.
Earlier, slow left-armer George Linde claimed three for 15 and Jonathan Vandiar top-scored with 33 off 18 deliveries as the hosts battled to acclimatise to the damp conditions after losing the toss and being asked to bat first.
Over two hours of play was lost due to heavy showers before the scheduled start, forcing the match to be reduced to a 10-over per side affair.
The Dolphins made a poor start by losing captain Morne van Wyk for a second-ball duck, caught by Kieron Pollard swooping in from mid-on, with Mthokozisi Shezi sending down the opening over.
It was nine for two in the next over when Cameron Delport wastefully thumped a Sybrand Engelbrecht loosener straight to Andrew Puttick at mid-on, also without troubling the scorers.
Vandiar, dropped on 14 by Puttick at deep cover, and Vaughn van Jaarsveld cut loose in an expensive sixth over sent down by Pollard with 17 taken, including the 50 being raised.
But the former then fell chasing another big shot, this time to Linde, that ended up down the throat of Pollard at long-on ending the partnership on 49.
Van Jaarsveld (29) followed five balls later to Dane Paterson (1-11) Äthe ball top-edged with Dane Vilas taking an easy catch.
The Dolphins then badly faded in the final two overs with Linde and Ferisco Adams (2-19) both striking twice each as they were restricted to a moderate 84 for eight.
That looked a walk in the park for the Cobras thanks to the flying start handed to them by the openers, Puttick and Levi.
They put on 29 in that time as Craig Alexander and Rabian Engelbrecht were struck all over the park, especially by Levi.
There was finally some respite in the fourth over as Prenelan Subrayen cleaned up Puttick for nine.
But Levi kept the scoreboard ticking over as the 50 was raised by the end of the fifth over.
The big-hitting right-hander then went to his half century in 25 deliveries, before he struck Dwayne Bravo straight down the ground to Frylinck.
The Dolphins claimed a third wicket when Alexander induced an edge from Omphile Ramela (11) to Van Wyk, but Pollard (11 not out) struck the winning runs to hand the Cobras a commanding win which lifted them to second on the table. – Sapa