The Rocks claimed a comfortable 32-run victory over the Limpopo Impalas in their final T20 Knock Out Pool D match in Kimberley on Wednesday.

Clyde Fortuin top-scored for the Rocks with a 35-ball 47, hitting three fours and two sixes, after they won the toss and elected to bat.

Although the Impalas made breakthroughs early on, removing the Malan brothers, Janneman (1) and Pieter (13), a rebuilding 60-run partnership between Fortuin and former SA U19 batsman Ruan Terblanche (28) proved significant in setting up the rest of the innings despite a solid bowling performance from the Impalas.

Middle-order batters Christiaan Jonker (19) and Shaun von Berg (24) provided the much-needed injection of runs in the back end, helping the Rocks to a competitive 141-8.

Don Radebe (3-31) and Sithembile Langa (2-34) were the protagonists with the ball for the Limpopo side, leading the regular fall of wickets to restrict their Boland opponents.

The Impalas’ chase began positively, with Ludwig Kaestner (43) and captain Thomas Hobson (22) combining for a 54-run opening stand that looked set to take them towards their first win of the tournament before Von Berg broke the partnership in the ninth over.

That wicket sparked a loss of a further four scalps for just five runs to leave the Impalas on 61-5, with Imraan Manack (1-21) and Von Berg (3-17) tearing through the batting order.

Limpopo failed to recover from that collapse, despite efforts from Ntokozo Mahlaba (14) and Langa (13*), and were restricted to 109-8.

The Rocks will return for the quarter-finals next week following the Pool C action.

Photo: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix