Warriors down Cobras in tense PE semi Print E-mail
Category: Domestic Leagues
Written by Luke Tagg   
Sunday, 28 February 2010 19:22
The Warriors beat the Cape Cobras by three runs to win the first leg of the second Standard Bank Pro20 semi-final in Port Elizabeth on Friday night, putting one giant boot firmly in the final and the other in the Champions League Twenty20.

Warriors captain Davy Jacobs joined rising star Colin Ingram in the second-highest partnership of the season (96* off 63 balls), having set the higest partnership with Justin Kreusch against the same opponents at the same venue exactly one week prior.

The 149/3 posted by the Warriors meant the Cobras had to chase down a record score at St George's Park to win (the previous highest score chased down at the ground was 143).

The Cobras weren't good enough, falling three runs short, but it was close. As with the previous semi-final between the Highveld Lions and the Titans in Johannesburg last Wednesday, the chasing side needed four runs to win off the final ball.

In the first game Robbie Frylinck was up to the task, but Robin Peterson was unable to do more than a round, solid, strangely attractive dot.

Only eight runs were required off the final over but Rusty Theron's fast-growing reputation as a highly effective death bowler was enhanced by the four measly runs he conceded. I thought he was the best player in the MTN40 and I think he's got a good shot at being it in the SB Pro20 as well.

The day belonged to Colin Ingram, though, with his 60* off 41 balls. In scoring it he became the top run-scorer in the competition, averaging 51.60 with a strike rate of 145.76 from six games.

This guy is a serious talent. I'm not the only one who thinks so - he was named in CSA's provisional squad for the World Twenty20 on Saturday.

The Cobras suffered from the same problem they have all season: inconsistency with the bat. The big players have been small and there have been no outstanding individual performances this season.

I think they're going to join the Eagles on the sidelines of this year's CLT20, unless they can get Herschelle Gibbs firing at Newlands in the second leg on Wednesday. That's if he even plays.

The Warriors are getting some serious talent back in the form of Jacques Kallis, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, Wayne Parnell and Lonwabo Tsotsobe. The Cobras should have Graeme Smith, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs and Charl Langeveldt, but of those Gibbs is the only one who's fit.

The Warriors also have the advantage by being 1-0 up, so if they do take out the Cobras we're guaranteed of two new teams in this year's CLT20, not to mention two new SB Pro20 finalists.

As gutted as I am for the Cobras to lose, I have to confess to being a Colin Ingram fan. I've watched this guy all season and he's something special - very definitely a future Protea. When I'm a fan of someone I never like seeing him do badly, even if he's on an opposing side.

I also think he could make a big name for himself in the CLT20 if the Warriors get there. I'd like to see that.

At least it's a best-of-three semi-final - makes the final result a lot more fair.

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