The Cobras’ hot run in the Ram Slam was doused by rain in Durban.
The match was abandoned two overs into the Dolphins innings as they began to chase the Cobras offering of 172-4 at Kingsmead; an innings based on a magnificent 85 from JP Duminy, who smashed eight fours and five sixes among the 44 balls he faced.
It has been a miserable campaign for the Dolphins, who suffered their fourth washout in six matches, from which they have gathered 12 points, with just one win. The Cobras would have been kicking the doors, too, for this brought to an end a run of three wins which had taken them to second place on the log.
They ended the night 16 points behind the Titans, who destroyed the Warriors in a rain-shortened game in Benoni.
The Cobras had set a formidable target, one which had been hugely boosted in the last over of the innings, when Andile Phehlukwayo conceded 25 runs, of which Duminy smashed 24 with a sequence of 6, 6, 4, 6, 2. That really spoiled the seamster’s averages, for his first two overs went for just eight. In his second over, Duminy and Amla could harvest just five.
The Dolphins had done so well until the afterburners came on in the last five overs, when 71 runs were scored.
After the early loss of Temba Bavuma for three, Hashim Amla dragged the Cobras through the powerplay, taking control until Kyle Verreynne was dismissed for 14 with the score on 40. Verreynne, in just his 6th T20 match, was moved up the order to cover for Richard Levi, dropped after scoring just 18 runs in four matches.
The Cobras were in a precarious position on 73 when Amla went in the 11th over, lbw to Keshav Maharaj, but Duminy was more than willing to take the captain’s role. He added 73 with Qaasim Adams (23) before launching his assault.
The Dolphins lost Sarel Erwee in the second over, when the rain came down.
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
