Eagles back at the top

The Eagles jumped back to the top of the Standard Bank Cup table after an exciting, last ball, one-wicket win over the Cape Cobras at Goodyear Park, Bloemfontein. Set a target of 224 in the 45 overs the Eagles, after a solid start from Jonathan Beukus (55), nearly stumbled as wickets fell in the middle of the innings. At 100 for 2 the Eagles were set for an easy win, but wickets for Rory Kleinveldt, finishing with a career best 4 for 29, put the Eagles back on their heels at 130 for 5. It became 203 for 9 with 10 balls to be bowled but some poor bowling at the death, with two no balls and a wide, allowed Ryan McLaren (37 not out) and Dillon du Preez (12 not out) to see the Eagles home with a boundary off the final ball.

The Cobras innings never gained any momentum with Johan van der Wath taking crucial wickets at just the right time and ending with 4 for 41. It was Henry Davids (71) and Con de Lange (64) who steadied things with a 132-run sixth-wicket partnership, scored in 25 overs, allowing the Cobras to reach 223 for 9, a total which in the end proved just too little.

By beating the Warriors at the Wanderers, Johannesburg,in another nail biter, the Lions moved to within one point of the Eagles. A 25 minute rain interruption could not stop the Lions as Stephen Cook (51) and Adam Bacher put on 53 for the first wicket. Neil McKenzie (42) and Vaughan van Jaarsveld (28), with very little pressure applied, moved comfortably towards the target of 211 when a mini collapse forced Matthew Harris to throw caution to the wind in striking 36 runs off 27 balls. In the final over the Lions scored the seven runs needed with two balls to spare.

The Warriors had struggled to come to terms with the pace of the pitch and some quick bowling from Friedel de Wet with the 100 only coming up in the 25th over. Some lusty blows from Tyron Henderson (28), his first shot was a six over square leg, helped the Warriors to 210 for 9, a total that was always going to be 20 to 30 runs short of a competitive score. De Wet's 2 for 21 in nine overs won him the Man-of-the-Match award.