The Dolphins are one step closer to defending their Momentum One-Day Cup title after beating the Cobras by three wickets in the first semi-final on Monday.
Last year’s winners booked their spot in the playoffs after comfortably topping Pool A during the group phases, while the men from the Cape saw off the Warriors this past weekend to secure their place.
Both sides were missing key players, who joined up with the travelling Proteas T20I squad, currently on their way to Pakistan.
READ: Cobras through to MODC semis
It was a bad start for the Cobras, who were asked to bat first, losing Pieter Malan in the second over for only one.
New opening batsman Tony de Zorzi and Jason Smith played a couple of delightful strokes to steady the ship.
Smith departed for 37 when he was dismissed by Ottniel Baartman before the fast bowler accounted for the wicket of captain Zubayr Hamza.
De Zorzi took the Cobras past the 100-run mark by bringing up his half-century in the process.
But, his dismissal for 61 sparked a batting collapse dismissing the Cobras for 196. Baartman finished with three wickets, while Senuran Muthusamy, Robbie Frylinck and Prenelan Subrayen all took two each.
The Cobras, however, fought back strongly with the ball and troubled the Dolphins batsmen from the start.
Corbin Bosch took two wickets in as many deliveries in the very first over that slumped the Durban team to 2-2.
Imran Manack also got in on the act by picking up the wickets of Ruan de Swardt and Grant Roelofsen, while Khaya Zondo was run out for eight.
At 58-5, the Dolphins were in deep trouble and desperate for a partnership to get them back in the contest.
That came from Muthusamy and Frylinck, who began to take the attack to the Cobras bowlers.
The pair put on a 112-run stand before Frylinck was bowled by Jonathan Bird for 62. Muthusamy was trapped in front by Aviwe Mgijima shorty after for 57, but it was enough to set the Dolphins up for victory.
Eathan Bosch and Subrayen got their team over the line with seven overs remaining in the match.
The Dolphins will face either the Lions or Knights in Thursday’s final at Senwes Park.
