The YesPlay Western Province Cobras secured a bonus-point five-wicket Super 8s victory over the Garden Route Badgers to secure their place in the semifinals of the YesPlay Pro20 Cup at YesPlay Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday evening.
The hosts were relentless with their bowling, along with some inauspicious shots from the men from Oudtshoorn. The Badgers were humbled for just 99 in 19.3 overs after George Linde had won the toss and elected to field first on a cool Cape Spring evening.
The Cobras reached their target in just 14.3 overs to secure the win with the extra point and their place on finals day on Saturday at their home venue. However, the win was not without some issues for the Cobras as they stumbled before a 38-run stand between Kyle Verreynne and Linde settled the nerves.
Just 14 runs away from victory, Yaseen Valli took a fantastic catch from the bowling of Banels Cele (2-0-9-1) to see the end of Linde (27), who faced just 16 balls, striking two fours and a six. Then Mihlali Mpongwana (2) gave away his wicket with just four left to get, caught at long off by Leo Sadler from the bowling of Liam Adler (4-1-21-2).
Jiveshan Pillay (3) and Kashief Josephs' (5) early dismissals left the Cobras in a spot of bother, and then Daniel Smith (15) compounded the home side’s issues when he was stumped by Bennie Hansen from the bowling of Reagan Rhode (3.3-0-28-1).
Verreynne ended unbeaten on 35 from 34 balls with two fours and a six while Oliver Whitehead was at the non-striker’s end on six.
It was Dane Paterson (4-1-16-2) who began the demolition when he clean-bowled Valli (18), who looked entertaining with three boundaries before dancing down the pitch and missing a straight one that cannoned into middle stump. Paterson then had Slade van Staden cracking to Pillay at point without scoring.
Andile Phehlukwayo (6) lasted just eight balls before being caught and bowled by Sinalo Ngobeni (1-0-3-1) before a snorter from Tshepo Moreki (3.3-0-18-2) found a feint outside edge through to wicketkeeper Verreynne, with Hansen departing for one.
Sadler (2) and Adler (7) fell quickly before Josh Breed (4-0-19-1) claimed the big wicket of Janneman Malan (38), who had been dropped shortly before by Breed from the bowling of Moreki. Zack Momberg (10) and Cele (4) failed to make an impact, while Liyabona Malife was run out for just two to end the innings.
BADGERS: Yaseen Valli, Janneman Malan (capt), Slade van Staden, Andile Phehlukwayo, Bennie Hansen (wkt), Leo Sadler, Liam Alder, Zack Momberg, Banele Cele, Liyabona Malife, Reagon Rhode.
COBRAS: Jiveshan Pillay, Kashief Josephs , Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Daniel Smith, George Linde (capt), Mihlali Mpongwana, Oliver Whitehead, Josh Breed, Sinalo Gobeni, Tshepo Moreki, Dane Paterson.