Jaysuriya's all-round performance sets the Dolphins up for win

Charl Langeveldt had started the innings by conceding only a single in the first over, but the KwaZulu-Natal side picked up the pace in the lucrative fourth over - the first by Kleinveldt - when they scored 23 runs.

The man responsible was Sri Lankan Jayasuriya (41 off 24 balls, three fours and three sixes).

Sixes driven to mid-off and mid-on were followed by a third flicked to square-leg, and a four hooked fine off the first four balls of the over.

With HD Ackerman keeping up a good tempo at the other end, the Dolphins were able to reach a handy 71/0 after seven overs.

Off-spinner Ontong's first ball broke the threatening 75-run first-wicket stand when Jayasuriya hit across the line and was bowled by a full ball, and it became two wickets in two overs when Claude Henderson held a return catch to send a hesitant looking Hashim Amla (two) back.
It was a horror performance for the Cobras, whose star-laden batting order failed to deliver, in pursuit of a target of 163. They finished on 148/9.

Abdullah bowled Henry Davids (0) off an inside edge off the second ball of the Cobras innings, and beat Herschelle Gibbs (0) with swing to trap him in front three deliveries later.

Left-arm spinner Sanath Jayasuriya bowled Justin Ontong (nine) and Rory Kleinveldt (0) with his first two balls of the evening, both of which kept straight.

That double-strike in the 11th over, left the Cobras on 64/7, and it was thanks to Levi's fight that the margin of defeat was made to look acceptable.

The Dolphins return home with their tails up for the second leg at Kingsmead on Sunday. The Cobras must win that clash to force a third leg, set for Durban on Wednesday.