Charl Langeveldt stars in Cobras' victory

MUMBAI: Veteran Charl Langeveldt starred with both bat and ball as the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras pulled off a stunning heist to claim a two-wicket Duckworth/Lewis victory over the Sunfoil Dolphins in their Momentum one-day Cup match at the Pietermaritzburg Oval on Sunday.
The former Proteas star first claimed two for 50 with the ball before blasting an unbeaten 23 off 16 balls to help the visitors chase down a revised 222 victory target with eight balls to spare.Dane Piedt (24 off 16 deliveries) also played his part for the Capetonians, who looked dead and buried at 174 for eight and only the bowlers to come.
But the two men added 51 in 31 balls for the ninth wicket to shock the home side.
Earlier, half-centuries from Daryn Smit (64 off 76 balls), Vaughn van Jaarsveld (63 off 122 balls) and David Miller (68 off 45 balls ) helped Lance Klusener's men post a competitive 253 for six.
The Dolphins, without much game time under their belts due to persistent rain in the build-up, began cautiously under blue skies and paid the price with Cameron Delport (six) and Jonathan Vandiar (15) falling in the space of three deliveries.
But Smit and Van Jaarsveld rebuilt the innings with a fine 121-run stand. They started out slowly as the Dolphins edged past 50 in the 16th over, followed by the 50 partnership in 88 deliveries.
The 100 then came up in the 26th over as the two batsmen began to find their range. Skipper Smit was first to pass 50 with a quick single off Justin Kemp taking him there in 65 deliveries with the 100 partnership coming up simultaneously. Van Jaarsveld's half-century followed from a patient 92 balls.
However, Smit fell in the 35th over when he top-edged Langeveldt to Richard Levi at midwicket.
Miller came in and took up the aggressor role, planting a six with his 11th delivery which flew back over bowler Hendricks' head. At the other end, though, Van Jaarsveld fell in the same 40th over when he got through his shot too early and was caught by Johann Louw at mid-off.
Cody Chetty (seven) followed when he was snapped up at deep square leg by Hendricks off Louw, before the home team went past 200 in the 46th when Miller worked Dane Piedt away for two boundaries. Together with Robbie Frylinck (17), the Proteas middle-order batsman put on 50 in five overs, helping the hosts set 254 for victory. Beuran Hendricks was the pick of the bowlers with three for. Despite Andrew Puttick's 48 off 70 balls and a more aggressive 43 off 35 balls from Van Zyl, the home side were always in control of the contest.
Rain held up play for close to 40 minutes with the score on 76 for two forcing the target to be altered and appearing to tip the scales in favour of the Dolphins. They continued to plug away after the rain and once debutant Lonwabo Tsotsobe (2/27) trapped key man Justin Ontong (33) leg before wicket after a sustained period of pressure, the writing appeared to be on the wall.But the Cobras showed why they are the defending champions and scampered home in 38.4 overs with eight balls to spare.