Cape Town dominated the match from the outset, restricting the home side to just six runs from their first six overs after St Augustines had elected to bat first on a tricky pitch surrounded by a slowish outfield. Then, just as the opening batsmen began threatening to find some momentum at long last, Geoff Dods struck twice in his second over to leave St Augustines languishing as 36 for two by the end of the second powerplay. Opener Gary Kleinveld thereafter finally fell for 21 after batting for 19 overs, but - as before - just when the home side's middle order appeared to be stabilising matters somewhat at 72 for three after 25 overs, Dods popped up again with another two wickets in his second spell. With the seamer thus completing a Cape Town First XI career-best of four for 27 from his nine overs, allied with some tight left-arm spin from Tom Main, only Dinovan Oliver thereafter managed to carry the fight to the visitors - none of the last six home batsmen could reach double figures. When Oliver finally holed out to deep mid wicket for 33 from 66 balls off the bowling of Clive Gie, it was the beginning of the end, as the Cape Town opening bowler went on to claim three scalps in two overs. As a result, St Augustines were bundled out for a disappointing 121 with almost three overs left unused, wicket-keeper Jonathan Holgate completing a tidy display behind the stumps with four catches.

Chasing their modest target, the visitors themselves initially struggled to come to grips with the bowling, and at 29 for one by the end of the second powerplay were actually worse off than their hosts had been at the corresponding stage. Somewhat conversely though, the end of that powerplay seemed to be the signal for the Cape Town batsmen to begin their assault, Damian Thornton striking a six and a four in the very next over. Thereafter the change in fortunes was dramatic, Dominic Telo joining the party by cracking six fours from his next 23 balls faced as the vistors surged away. An awkward 29 for one after 15 overs was consequently rapidly transformed into a dominant 93 for one just eight overs later, and the match had been won and lost. Telo ultimately just missed out on a fifty to go with his hundred of the previous week, miscuing to mid wicket to end their 70-run second-wicket stand compiled in less than 13 overs, but Thornton barely seemed to notice - cracking 20 more runs off his next 13 balls to reach his first fifty for the First XI since February 2008 and wrap up a commanding eight-wicket victory with almost 17 overs to spare.

The Limited Overs League now takes a break for six weeks or so as the real prize to play for - the Two-Day League - begins. The switch in format sees the Cape Town First XI thus tied at the top of their Limited Overs pool with the University of the Western Cape, the show-down between these two sides to potentially determine who will progress to the semi-finals of this competition delayed now until mid-February 2010.

Match photo's