Solid performances at the top of the order saw the Cape Cobras, Warriors and Titans record wins in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge on Friday.

A wet Durban staged the match between last year’s finalists. The weather meant that the contest was reduced to 10 overs a side. Jonathan Vandiar and Vaughn van Jaarsveld scored 33 and 29, respectively. They were the only batsmen to reach double figures in a Dolphins scorecard resembling a telephone number. Their efforts took the score to 84-8 in their allotted 10 overs.

Richard Levi took the shortened match by the scruff of the neck during the reply. He sent the new ball to all parts, scoring a 27-ball 54 before falling with victory in touching distance. His explosive innings left the equation reflecting more balls remaining than runs required. The middle-order finished the job to record a seven-wicket victory with four balls to spare.

Elsewhere, the Warriors clipped the high-flying Knights wings in East London as they got home by 7-wickets with three balls to spare. Despite an exceptional all-round performance by the West Indian Andre Russell, it wasn’t enough to keep the Knights in the winner’s circle.

Russell smashed an unbeaten 31-ball 57 to take the visitors to a defendable 146-4 at the end of their 20 overs. In reply, JJ Smuts finally came good at the top of the order. He carried his bat, ending on 73 off just 56 balls to seal the Warriors second win of the competition.

In Benoni, Henry Davids set up the Titans first victory of the competition. The former captain cut loose at the top of the order scoring 75 off just 42 deliveries to set up an imposing 161-6 in the 16 over innings.

The Lions reply got off to a terrible start with Alviro Peterson, Chris Gayle, Neil McKenzie and Temba Bavuma all falling cheaply. Dwayne Pretorius played a cameo of 27 off 14 balls, but the mainstay of the innings was Jean Symes. The left-hander smashed an unbeaten 32-ball 57, but it was only enough to shrink the margin of defeat to 21 runs.

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