The Cape Cobras eliminated defending champions the Titans at the semifinal stage when they won their Standard Bank Pro20 match at SuperSport Park by 22 runs on Saturday.
Australian Ian Harvey, who had scored just 52 runs in five innings in the competition, finally pitched up at the crease — and in a big way. His inspired innings of 45 off just 18 balls led the Cobras to a matchwinning 95 for five in their seven overs.
After AB de Villiers had been caught on the boundary off Charl Willoughby for a whirlwind 30 off 13 deliveries, the rest of the Titans batsmen fared poorly in the run-chase as the required rate rocketed.
Titans captain Martin van Jaarsveld is not known for launching balls into the heavens, but he nevertheless batted himself at number three and dawdled to 17 off 13 balls before being run out in the last over.
That tactical blunder resulted in Albie Morkel facing just four balls — a terrible waste.
Rory Kleinveldt bowled an outstanding penultimate over — conceding just five runs and bowling the big-hitting Gerald Dros for 15 off eight balls, as the match swung irrevocably to the the Cobras.
Harvey wasted no time in launching a thrilling onslaught on the Titans bowlers when play eventually started 155 minutes late due to rain. The Australian lashed five fours and three sixes and made his highest Standard Bank Pro20 score despite the limited time he had at the crease.
But after he was yorked by Morne Morkel, the Cobras rather lost their way until the last over, when Vernon Philander hit a couple of sixes to boost the total.
Brendon Reddy made short work of Kleinveldt (7) and JP Duminy (4), dismissing both in an excellent sixth over that saw the Cobras score just five runs. The Titans opening bowler finished with fine figures of two for 19 in his two overs.
Andrew Puttick (19 off 11 balls), in an opening stand of 60 off 26 balls with Harvey, and Philander (15 not out off 4 balls) were the other Cobras batsmen to shine. – Sapa