CAPE TOWN, South Africa, CMC – West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard produced a typical cameo and returned with the ball to grab three wickets, as Cape Cobras breezed past Knights by 33 runs to lift the Ram Slam Twenty20 title here last night.
Opting to bat first at Newlands, Cape Cobras rattled up a competitive 158 for four and then bowled well to restrict Knights to a disappointing 125 for nine.
The victory broke Cape Cobras’ championship game curse, having lost in the final for the last two seasons.
With the innings meandering at 72 for three in the 13th over, Pollard entered to change the course of the game with an unbeaten 43 from just 23 balls.
He struck six fours and added a crucial 68 for the fourth wicket with Omphile Ramela whose top score of 54 came from 34 balls and included five fours and two sixes.
Wicketkeeper Dane Vilas chipped in with a run-a-ball 29 batting at number three while opener, Test captain Hashim Amla, got 26 from 27 deliveries.
West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell went wicket-less from his four overs which cost 40 runs.
In reply, Knights were well poised at 70 for one after opener Reeza Hendricks, who top-scored with 41 from 35 balls, put on 38 for the first wicket with Gerhardt Abrahams (9) and a further 32 for the second wicket with Rilee Roussouw.
Hendricks struck four fours before falling in the 12th over but Roussouw, with 33 from 23 balls carried the fight to set Knights up at 91 for two.
However, fast bowler Dane Paterson grabbed four for 33 and Pollard chipped in with three for 23 from three overs, as Knights lost the last seven wickets for 26 runs.
Russell was among the carnage, perishing in the 16th over for just five.
