• Rabada's 14 wickets bury Dolphins

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    Sunfoil Series round-up: A 19-year-old speedster helps the Highveld Lions regain the log leadership while Cobras are denied a win in thriller.

    Highveld Lions v Dolphins, Johannesburg.

    While the Titans surged to a three-day win over the Warriors on Saturday, briefly going top of the  log, young Kagiso Rabada stormed in to take nine wickets for 33 runs and wrap up the Dolphins innings for just 134, setting up a 10-wicket win and regaining the league honours.

    The 19 year-old’s return of 14-105 was the best return since Dale Steyn’s 14-110 back in 2007 for the Titans against the Eagles.

    The Dolphins resumed at 22-1 on Sunday, still 97 runs behind, but Rabada struck twice within four overs to remove Daniel Sincuba (4) and Cody Chetty (5) to have the Dolphins flapping around at 34-3. Only Divan van Wyk offered any resistance, although Daryn Smit hung around long enough to build a stand of 34 for the fourth wicket.

    When Smit was removed by Chris Morris for 19, it was open house for Rabada, who took just 73 balls to demolish the rest of the Dolphins line-up. The Lions were left to score 15 runs for a comprehensive victory.

    Knights v Cobras, Kimberley

    The Cobras remain without a win after five games, but at least they provided an enthralling encounter in the draw against the Knights. The match ended with the Warriors’ last two batsmen holding out against a furious onslaught led by Travis Muller, just 10 days short of his 22nd birthday, who took 5-44. He was well supported by Dane Paterson (3-74), but the Cobras had left their declaration this morning a few overs too long.

    The two basement teams needed a win, and the Cobras tried to make a game of it when they blasted their way to 299-7 in their second innings, offering the Warriors a target of 290 off 72 overs. Time was called with the Warriors on 263-9.

    The Cobras owe their offer to some strong batting at the top of the order. Stiaan van Zyl (52) and Omphile Ramala (80) put on 107 for the second wicket. Andrew Puttick then picked up the gauntlet to hammer an unbeaten 101 off 167 balls.

    Things looked interesting when the Knights were 142-5, but Obus Pienaar (83) and Werner Coetsee (45) dropped the anchors, putting on 105. But back came Muller to dismiss both and open up the tail. Malusi Siboto and Duanne Olivier held out in the dying light to deny the Cobras a desperately needed win.

    Click here for Lions v Dolphins scoreboard
    Knights v Cobras

     Photo: backpagepix

     

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    Mark Salter