• Kleinveldt’s maiden fifer seals semi’s for Cobras

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    Rory Kleinveldt bagged a maiden fifer to help the Cobras clinch a spot in the One-Day Cup semi-finals, and earns himself Thursday’s Turbo Bowler award, writes ANITHA MADIKIZELA.

    The 36-year-old pacer picked up a career-best 5-22 at an economy rate of 2.53 runs over to lay the foundations of an emphatic seven-wicket win for the Cobras with 35 balls to spare.

    READ MORE: Kleinveldt magic sends Cobras into semis

    The frontline bowler opened the bowling alongside Vernon Philander (1-30) as the pair ripped through the Knights’ top order. Kleinveldt needed just three deliveries to make a breakthrough, dismissing Patrick Kruger for a duck, caught in the slips.

    He then accounted for Keegan Petersen (2) in his second over, dismissing the Knights’ star batsman of the season by rattling his stumps as the visitors limped out of the powerplay on 18-3.

    Kleinveldt returned to the attack at the tail-end of the innings to dismiss Marchant de Lange (11) and Shadley van Schalkwyk (28) with successive deliveries at the end of the 46th over. Knights’ No 11, Mbulelo Budaza (6), managed to survive the hat-trick ball, and two deliveries after that he toed a bouncer straight to the man at deep square leg. Having elected to bat first, the Knights could only manage 186 all out in their calamitous innings.

    The Cobras managed to chase down the target, but missed out on a bonus point which would have put them level on points with second-placed Dolphins. The home side crossed the line in the 45th over, thanks to an unbeaten 87-run partnership between youngsters Zubayr Hamza (65) and Kyle Verreynne (44).

    READ ALSO: Kleinveldt critics not justified

    The Titans, Dolphins and now Cobras have booked their places in the playoffs, but the final spot could go to any of the remaining teams on Saturday. The Warriors will have their fate in their own hands, while the Knights and the Lions will have to bag a win in their final fixture and rely on results elsewhere to qualify.

    Scorecard

    Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

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    Anitha Madikizela