The Cape Cobras, heavily weighted in terms of South Africa’s top cricketing talent, defeated the Highveld Lions on Wednesday by 15 runs and sit comfortably at the top of the log table with three wins from four matches, while the Lions are rooted to the bottom without registering a solitary win so far in the tournament.
By Michael Marnewick
In the other fixture of the day, nearly 400 runs were scored in a mammoth run chase that saw the Titans emerge victorious over the Warriors. Needing 198 to win, they managed to achieve the target with just one ball remaining to win by 6 wickets.
Young Quinton de Kock failed to make an impact, with 24 runs off 16 balls, although Proteas captain Graeme Smith, for the Cobras, contributed even less with 10 runs off 7 balls.  However, his opening partner, Hashim Amla who moved from the Dolphins to Cape Town recently, scored a match-winning 84 runs off 51 balls (nine 4s and three 6s). Also in the Cobras’ line-up were national players JP Duminy, Vernon Philander, Robin Peterson and Rory Kleinveldt.
Despite their win, the Titans remain a place one below the Warriors who are in third place with a 50% success rate (two wins from four), while the Titans have won two from three but their negative run rate sees them positioned below the Warriors, both on eight log points.Â
The Dolphins are unbeaten and with only two matches played, are in second place on the log, a surprise as they have not been all that competitive in the past few years. Perhaps the influence of swashbuckling coach Lance Klusener is rubbing off?
Chris Gayle, for the second year in a row, pulled out of his contract citing injury problems which is a huge blow for the Durban franchise with the big-hitting West Indian expected to contribute in a big way.  In his place however, David Miller has flourished and he has done no harm to his claim to remain a part of the Proteas’ setup. Â
Reeza Henricks of the Knights tops the batting averages with a total of 206 runs in four innings (average 68.66) with Amla third (ave 54), de Kock fourth (48.5) and Smith in fifth (35).
Upcoming fixtures (Friday night – all 6pm start):
Chevrolet Knights v Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras (Chevrolet Park, Bloemfontein)
Chevrolet Warriors v Sunfoil Dolphins (Axxess St George`s, Port Elizabeth)
bizhub Highveld Lions v The Unlimited Titans (Senwes Park, Potchefstroom)
The final takes place on 9 February.
