Paarl - The Dolphins cruised into the MTN40 semifinals with a comfortable seven-wicket win over the hapless Cape Cobras at Boland Park, Paarl, on Sunday.
The Dolphins scored 163 for three after 28.3 overs as they chased down the victory target of 162, with 11.3 overs to spare. In the process the Dolphins earned themselves a bonus point to add to the four points for the victory.
The Cobras, who won the toss scored, 161 for nine their 40-overs.
This emphatic victory secures the Dolphins a semifinal slot while the Cobras find themselves on the also-rans scrapheap, with two rounds of matches remaining.
'Man-of-the-Match' Vaughn van Jaarsveld took the Cobras' attack apart in the run-chase after the openers fell cheaply inside the first nine overs.
His match-winning 76 run knock off 55-balls included four sixes and seven fours.
He was splendidly supported by Ravi Bopara who weighed in with an undefeated 56, which included four fours and a six in his 75-ball innings.
Monde Zondeki claimed two 23 for two in seven overs and was the most successful bowler in the Cobras' attack.
Earlier, spectators were treated to another below par batting display by the Cobras who at one stage were reduced to 98 for seven by the 29th over. Tailender Rory Kleinveldt denied the Dolphins the chance to drive home the advantage with a lusty display of big hitting before Kyle Abbott claimed his wicket to halt the carnage.
Kleinveldt's 45 off 32 balls included five boundaries, and together with the Cobras' hired gun, Owais Shah, they advanced the innings from 97 for seven to 161 for eight. A stand of 63 runs in 11 overs.
Shah top-scored for the Cobras with 48 not out off 95 balls and the knock will go down in the MTN40 annals as a rare 48 runs without a boundary.
Dolphins paceman Abbott was the stand-out bowler for the visitors with three for 49, even though he came in for some stick plenty of stick in the latter overs of the Cobras innings.
The Dolphins spinners Imran Tahir and Keshav Maharaj were proved to be the most miserly taking two for 15 and one for 22
respectively. - Sapa