It wouldn’t have been a surprise if the Cape Cobras wanted the competition to end after their first half of the T20 Challenge.
They had won just one out of six games, with three defeats, and two others were washed out. After a winless first part of the Sunfoil Series, as well as off-field issues to deal with, the Cobras were heading downhill fast.
But chasing down a Kingsmead domestic T20 record 179 to win over the Dolphins on Sunday has given coach Paul Adams and his team renewed belief that they can turn things around.
The odds were again stacked against the Cape side in Durban when the Kevin Pietersen-inspired Dolphins racked up 178/5, with the former England captain smashing 79 off just 51 balls.
With the match being the second of a double-header on a hot day, the pitch was dry by the time the Cobras went in to bat, and the Dolphins had three spinners in Imran Tahir, Keshav Maharaj and Prenelan Subrayen in their arsenal to exploit the conditions.
But Richard Levi produced a sparkling innings for the second game in a row with 54 off 31 deliveries to set up the innings, and captain Kieron Pollard (31 not out off 21) and Dane Vilas (54 not out off 34) finished off the seven-wicket victory with seven balls to spare.
The Cobras take on the Knights at Newlands on Wednesday (6pm start) and are still in fifth place on 12 points after seven matches, but have a game in hand over the Dolphins in fourth, who are three ahead. The Lions occupy third, the last playoff spot, with 16 points after seven encounters, so the final few rounds promises an exciting end to the league phase.
It’s still a bit of a long shot for the Cobras to make the playoffs, with the top three going through, but the other teams could knock each other out in the remaining matches.
“The belief is always there. If it is not, then we might as well pack our bags and finish the tournament. I think the week off was good for us as it gave us the opportunity to refresh and watching all the games, seeing that we are languishing in fifth spot. It is a matter of playing cricket, bat against ball. Do the basics right and be prepared, fight hard. We put ourselves in this position, and only we can get ourselves out of it,” Pollard said in a post-match TV interview.
“I told the guys at the start that all we need to focus on is game by game, and that starts here. We need to win this game, so we need all hands on deck. We need a massive effort. I told the guys in the dressing room that if we want to be a competitive force in this tournament, this is the game to do it. It’s a big chase, it would be a record chase for us, and we need to do it.”
Levi followed up his 45 off 27 balls against the Titans with a patient innings where he chose his boundary shots well, and didn’t let close run-out calls affect his approach.
“I just had a small chat with Richard as well, and in the last game as well. He has been a bit rushed in the first couple of games, and we know that once Richard stays and he bats, it is good for us and a psychological advantage once he is in on the wicket,” Pollard said.
“If he gets out, then the opposing team has that advantage. He is reaping the rewards as he batted really well in the last game that was affected by the rain. Today he was spectacular, and Dane coming in with his experience, it was just a matter of finishing it off.”
Following the Knights clash, the Cobras complete their league programme against the Warriors in Port Elizabeth on Friday (6pm) and the Lions in Paarl on Sunday (2.30pm).
Twitter: @ashfakmohamed