Cobras and Dolphins claim crucial Pro20 victories
The YesPlay Cobras and the Hollywoodbets Dolphins opened their accounts for the 2026/27 Hollywoodbets Pro20 Series after securing respective victories over the DP World Lions and the Warriors on Sunday.
The defending champions, Cobras, clinched a seven-run triumph over the Lions in a topsy-turvy clash at the DP World Wanderers Stadium after captain Leah Jones top-scored with an inspired half-century.
Meanwhile, at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban, the Dolphins were steered to a comprehensive 63-run victory over the newly-promoted Warriors by a captain’s knock from Nondumiso Shangase, who notched up a memorable fifty.
The KwaZulu-Natal outfit began the day by winning the toss and electing to bat first. Openers Alexandra Candler (44) and Yasmeen Khan (37) raced to an 84-run stand off 56 deliveries before both batters departed in quick succession.
Despite the double blow, the Warriors’ joy was short-lived as Elandri Janse van Rensburg (25) and Shangase added an important 69 runs for the third wicket to take the Dolphins to 158/2 in the 18th over.
Although wickets began to fall around her, with Jana Nell (2/23) and Rasika Maharaj (2/37) leading the way for the Warriors, Shangase continued to find the boundaries with ease to reach her first fifty of the Pro20 season before departing in the final over as the Dolphins posted a daunting total of 179/7.
In their attempt to chase down the imposing target, the Warriors struggled to find the required rhythm with bat in hand as the Dolphins bowlers, including Seshnie Naidu (1/11) and Candler (1/14), snuffed out any momentum at every turn.
Despite notable contributions from Kwanga Pinini (32) and Alyssa Erxleben (28*), the visitors could not find the partnerships needed to mount a challenge before eventually being restricted to 116/6 in their allotted 20 overs.
Back in Johannesburg, defending champions Cobras got one over last season’s finalists in an exciting encounter after winning the toss and electing to bat first. The visitors faced an early barrage from star seamer Shabnim Ismail (3/18), who claimed three wickets inside three overs to leave the Cobras stunned on 10/3.
With her team’s back against the wall, captain Jones anchored two vital partnerships worth 33 and 59 runs with Lara Goodall (16) and Oluhle Siyo (16), respectively, while bringing up her maiden T20 half-century.
After Jones’ departure in the 17th over, Delmi Tucker (18) and Mieke de Ridder (11) provided important late runs to help the Cobras post a competitive 133/7.
Defending 134 to record their first T20 win of the season, the Cobras made life difficult for the Lions’ top order early in the chase, with wickets from Jones (1/16), Nadine de Klerk (1/15) and a run-out helping to keep the hosts caged on 31/3 in the ninth over.
The Lions responded through Fay Cowling’s 21-ball 32 and Sunette Viljoen-Louw’s run-a-ball 41 but the Cobras continued to take wickets at key moments before restricting the home side to 126/7 to seal a seven-run win.
The results from this weekend’s Pro20 Series leave the Fidelity Titans leading the log with two wins from two matches, while the Cobras, Dolphins and Garden Route Badgers sit on one victory each.
Results - Hollywoodbets Pro Series - Week 3
Hollywoodbets Pro20 Series - Sunday, 18 October
Hollywoodbets Dolphins beat Warriors by 63 runs
Dolphins: 179/7 after 20 overs; N. Shangase 52 (28), A. Candler 44 (34); J. Nell 2/23, R. Maharaj 2/37
Warriors: 116/6 after 20 overs; K. Pinini 32 (33), A. Erxleben 28* (20); S. Naidu 1/11, A. Candler 1/14
YesPlay Cobras beat DP World Lions by 7 runs
Cobras: 133/7 after 20 overs; L. Jones 53 (54), D. Tucker 18 (10); S. Ismail 3/18, S. Nettleton 2/21
Lions: 126/7 after 20 overs; S. Viljoen-Louw 41* (41), F. Cowling 32 (21); O. Siyo 2/30, N. de Klerk 1/15
Hollywoodbets Pro50 Series - Saturday, 17 October
Hollywoodbets Dolphins beat Warriors by 149 runs
Dolphins: 306/9 after 50 overs; R. Searle 103 (124), A. Candler 82 (95); A. Erxleben 2/43, A. Adonisi 2/54
Warriors: 157 all out after 43.2 overs; A. Erxleben 31* (50), Z. Mdebuka 24 (56); S. Naidu 3/34, A. Candler 2/12
DP World Lions beat YesPlay Cobras by 5 wickets
Cobras: 137 all out after 39 overs; N. de Klerk 37 (61), L. Jones 36 (73); R. Ntozakhe 5/21, S. Ismail 3/32
Lions: 140/5 after 25.5 overs; M. Landsman 48* (64), F. Cowling 24 (43); O. Siyo 3/28, K. Reyneke 1/12
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