Durban - Craig Alexander grabbed career-best figures to help the Dolphins overcome the top-of-the-table Cape Cobras runs and book a place in the domestic One-Day Cup play-offs with a 71-run victory at Kingsmead, in Durban, on Friday.
The fast bowler claimed figures of five for 42 as the hosts restricted the visitors to 212 in 45.2 overs in pursuit of a 284
victory target that was built around half centuries from Imraan Khan (71), Cody Chetty (66) and Khaya Zondo (59 not out) - the latter pair sharing a partnership of 110 from just 73 deliveries.
Stiaan van Zyl (69) top-scored for the Cape side, but once he fell their chances quickly faded leaving the Dolphins to secure second spot on the log.
It means they will host Tuesday's play-offs against the third-placed Titans, with the Cobras automatically moving into the final, which they will host next Friday at Newlands.
The home side made their best start of the season after winning the toss and batting first as Khan and Morne van Wyk (32) put on 46 for the first wicket, before the captain was stumped by Dane Vilas off Dane Piedt (3/42).
But Cameron Delport, dropped on seven by Justin Kemp at first slip off Lizaad Williams, continued the good momentum putting on 80 with Khan in just over 15 overs, including the 100 being raised in the 24th over.
Just as Delport, who smashed two sixes in the latter part of his knock, was starting to make real strides, he chopped on from Williams for 43 off 55 deliveries with new man Vaughn van Jaarsveld (one) following quickly after he was stumped by Vilas off Piedt.
Khan reached a patient 50 in 85 balls, but then fell via some extra bounce from a Piedt delivery, which was top-edged to Andrew Puttick at square leg.
Kyle Abbott was promoted up the order and run out for a duck, although that was where the visitors' joy ended with the total on 173 for five.
Chetty was put down on 25 by Piedt, while Zondo smashed 10 fours and a six in their impressive stand to propel the hosts to their biggest total of the season.
It was a game of patience during the early stages of the reply as Puttick and Vilas struggled to find any sort of rhythm Ä the sluggish opening stand brought to an end by Graham Onions, who had the latter caught by Van Jaarsveld at slip for 16.
Van Zyl was next in and added a quick-fire 39 with Puttick (22) and then 68 with Justin Ontong (34) either side of the wicket of Yaseen Vallie (six), one of two scalps for Alexander.
But after getting to his 12th one-day half century in 70 balls, Van Zyl was cleaned up by the outstanding Abbott (1/25) to leave the Cape side on 183 for five.
That proved a decisive blow as their remaining wickets fell for 29 leaving the hosts to claim what proved a comfortable win. - Sapa