A superb all-round contribution by Cape Town's Matthew Olsen proved the difference between the sides on the day, allowing his team to start their season off on a winning note for the fourth successive time. It was his contribution of 44 unbeaten runs with the bat that was decisive though, as a difficult pitch offering significantly variable bounce, combined with seamer-friendly overcast conditions, made for a low-scoring game in which only two other batsmen were able to reach 20.
Unpleasantly cold conditions aside it was an entertaining match, with numerous twists and turns in fortune making it impossible to predict the ultimate winner until the final ball had been bowled. Cape Town initially held the upper hand through winning the toss and giving their hosts first use of the tricky batting surface. Their opening bowlers enjoyed the swing and steep bounce that they could extract, keeping Durbanville pinned down to a pedestrian scoring rate of two to the over. However, they could not force a breakthrough, and it was well over an hour before the first wicket fell. By then the back-up bowlers were operating, and Cape Town's ever-reliable off-spinner Donovan Holman exploited the opportunity with a double-wicket maiden as the hosts slumped from 40 without loss to 46 for three.
Thereafter the scoring came in fits and starts, as all but one of the Durbanville top six made a start to spend some time at the crease, but none went on to make any significant score. It was once again Cape Town's spin pairing of Holman and Olsen that dominated, sharing seven wickets between them and ensuring that none of the last five reached double figures. They gave wicket-keeper Rory O'Brien a field day as well, claiming four stumpings as the ever-present run rate pressure claimed its toll. Consequently only Siyabulela Nelani reached 20, and he needed two missed catches and a stumping attempt to get there.
Requiring just 128 to win at under three to the over, Cape Town could comfortably pace themselves without undue run rate pressure. They were consequently able to weather an aggressive and accurate initial onslaught by the Durbanville opening bowlers without too much damage, and at 62 for two after 20 overs with Marc de Beer well set and scoring comfortably, they were well on the way to victory.
However, at this point home team captain Francois Gantz turned the game on its head with three wickets in eleven balls. When he dismissed de Beer as well two overs later to complete his five-for, Cape Town's top six were all back in the hut with just 70 on the board - and Durbanville had the momentum and the strong scent of victory. That brought Olsen to the crease though, and with firm clips off his legs and steering neatly backward of point, he scored fluently from the outset to quickly take over from de Beer as the major threat to a home team victory. Surviving a sharp chance to slip on 20*, Olsen rallied dogged support from the lower middle order, and with the next two wickets adding 49 they gradually turned matters back in the visitors' favour.
Thus Cape Town was back on the verge of victory, needing just nine off three overs with three wickets in hand. Durbanville weren't done yet though, and the introduction of Lillian da Silva into the attack for the first time at this point swung the pendulum of the game's fluctuating fortunes once again. Bowling full and straight, da Silva started with a double-wicket maiden, putting the home side back in the pound seats again as the equation changed to nine needed off two overs with just one wicket left. Not for the first time though, number eleven Richard Lotter demonstrated his ability to keep the innings alive through his solid defence, and he successfully negotiated eight deliveries to give Olsen the strike for the last over - with eight runs still wanted and any outcome still possible. But da Silva bowled the wrong line at Olsen's legs, allowing him to work the ball away into the onside for two, four and two - and sealing a heart-stopping win with two balls to spare.
Match photo's