Mohali: Cape Cobras today held their nerves at key moments as they outwitted Barbados Tridents in a thrilling ‘Super Over' contest in the Oppo Champions League T20, here this evening to keep their slender hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals alive.
Chasing a fighting target of 175, Cobras started in a whirlwind fashion only to lose momentum and finally scramble home at 174 for five to tie the scores. Jonathan Carter's brilliant unbeaten 111 for Tridents went in vain as the South African outfit came up trumps in a pulsating affair.
In the ‘One Over Eliminator' or ‘Super Over' Cobras managed to score 11 with Dane Vilas hitting a boundary off Ravi Rampaul. In reply, Tridents could only manage 10 in the end giving Cobras their first win in the tournament as offie Sybrand Engelbrecht bowled a tight last over.
It was a match that Tridents could have won when Cobras required three runs off the final delivery bowled by Ryad Emrit with Engelbrecht at the crease. Englebrecht couldn't time his pull-shot properly and along with partner Justin Kemp set off for an improbable two.
Raymon Reifer threw from the deep and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich made a mess trying to gather the ball as Engelbrecht put in a desperate dive to save the situation.
However Cobras had started with bang as burly opener Richard Levi smashed 39 off 18 balls with three sixes and four boudaries as the South African outfit reached 50 inside four overs. Levi's illustrious opening partner Hashim Amla (59, 42 balls, 7x4, 1x6) also complemented him well as the duo put on 56 for the opening stand.
Once Levi was gone, Cobras got into a shell as they couldn't force the pace. Once Amla was gone in the 15th over, Tridents had the upperhand but their chase tapered off towards the end.
But Engelbrecht and Kemp added 31 in last three overs to take the issue to Super Over.
Engelbercht deservedly won ‘man-of-the-match' award for his impressive show with bat and ball under pressure situation.
