The Chevrolet Warriors sent the Nashua Cape Cobras crashing out of the Standard Bank Pro20 series with a 10 run victory at Sahara Park Newlands on Wednesday. The Warriors went into the match with a one-nil lead in the three-match contest and will now await the winners between the bizhub Highveld Lions and the Nashua Titans, for the final contest at Axxess DSL St Georges on Friday 12 March.

 

The Cobras would have been confident after they restricted the Warriors to 121/6 after 20 overs. Johan Botha (29*) was the top scorer for the Warriors, with his unbeaten 58-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Craig Thyssen (27*) lifting the visitors to a total of substance, after they were left stumbling at 63/6 after 14 overs. Thyssen blasted 27 off 18 balls and deservedly received the master blaster batsman of the match award. The Warriors were in trouble from the onset losing Jon-Jon Smuts (10) and danger-man Colin Ingram (2) in the first four overs. Opener, Ashwell Prince contributed with a patient 25 off 27 balls, amidst the rampage from the Cobras bowlers. The Cobras bowlers were all amongst the wickets, with Justin Kemp (2/8), Monde Zondeki (1/14) and Vernon Philander (1/19) the outstanding performers.

 

22 off the final over was always a tough ask for the home team and despite having big hitters Kemp and Vernon Philander at the crease, the Cobras had however left it too late. Pressure is the name of the game in the Standard Bank Pro20 Series and the Warriors’ bowlers managed to choke up the Cobras’ batsmen who had a casual approach to the low total, in Pro20 terms. Rusty Theron got the first breakthrough of the innings with the wicket of Robin Peterson (5), who came off a 50 off 46 balls in the first leg in Port Elizabeth last week Friday. Gibbs was the next man to go, caught by Theron at third man for two, the expectant crowd left at murmur, with Makhaya Ntini the only man celebrating. The Cobras continued to lose wickets at crucial moments, Nicky Boje with the wicket of Andrew Puttick for 22 off 39 balls in the 13^th over and Botha grabbing Justin Ontong, who faced 31 balls for his 28, in the 15^th over, two batsmen that had occupied the crease for some time. Ntini was named as the Master Blaster Bowler with his match-winning figures of 2/12, and was well assisted by superb bowling from Theron (2/29) and Botha (1/15). In the end, Kemp and Philander were left with too much to do and struggled to find the boundaries, with the 2009/2010 Standard Bank Pro20 Title now certain to have new holders.

 

The Nashua Titans host the bizhub Highveld Lions in the fourth semi-final on Friday 6 March at Supersport Park, Centurion. The Titans trail one-nil and will have to win the final two matches to contest the Final against the Warriors next week. The Titans have the advantage of calling on their Proteas players while the Lions will continue to ride with the momentum that has carried them so far. The match will start at 6:00 PM.