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.

Graeme Smith knows Dolphin danger Sanath Jayasuriya

If there is one player in the Cape Cobras team who knows the danger Dolphins opener Sanath Jayasuriya poses in Friday night's Pro20 first-leg semi-final at Newlands, then it's captain Graeme Smith.

Smith has spent years devising strategies on how to dismiss the Sri Lankan master blaster, but has also had first-hand experience of the carnage Jayasuriya can cause when he is in the mood.

The veteran left-hander was certainly in the mood four years ago at Taunton when he and Smith shared a 197-run first-wicket partnership for English county side Somerset against the then all-conquering Australians. Jayasuriya struck 101 off 79 balls and Smith 108 off 74 balls and the Aussies were humbled by four wickets.

"Geez, that was an amazing game," said Smith. "The Aussies got over 340 and we both got hundreds. Sanath obviously doesn't talk much between overs, so he was just standing on the one side and me on the other, and we were just flaying away.

"It was great to be able to just watch and enjoy and not having to worry about trying to get him out. He played some amazing shots that day. There's no doubt Sanath is a match-winner. If he gets off to a flyer, he just takes the pressure off all the remaining batsmen. He is also a more than useful bowler."

Jayasuriya only joined the Dolphins camp on Thursday, having represented Sri Lanka in a Twenty20 international against India as late as Wednesday. Smith, who had the entire week to familiarise himself with the Cobras' set-up, believes Jayasuriya's late arrival might just play into the Cobras' hands.

TEAMS FOR NEWLANDS:

Cobras: Graeme Smith (capt), Herschelle Gibbs, JP Duminy, Henry Davids, Justin Ontong, Richard Levi, Andrew Puttick (w/k), Roger Telemachus, Rory Kleinveldt, Claude Henderson, Charl Langeveldt.

Dolphins (from): Sanath Jayasuriya, Hashim Amla, HD Ackerman, Grant Rowley, Ahmed Amla (capt), Jon Kent, Pierre de Bruyn, Daryn Smit (w/k), Johann Louw, Alfonso Thomas, Quinton Friend, Yusuf Abdulla, Imraan Khan.