The Gbets Rocks secured a crucial bonus-point One Day Cup win as they beat the North West Dragons by seven wickets at the Gbets Boland Park in Paarl on Wednesday.
Defending a mere 139 runs for victory, the Dragons got off to the best possible start with the ball thanks to spinner Senuran Muthusamy, who got opener Janneman Malan to nick behind for a golden duck.
Things were looking up for the Dragons, who needed a win to advance through to the One Day Cup final when Eldred Hawken got the inside edge of Valentine Kitme's (5) bat.
After a mini third-wicket partnership, Hawken struck again as he got Jacobus Du Plooy to advance down the wicket and slap it straight to mid-on for 14.
However, the score was too low and runs kept on ticking for the Rocks as they needed to get over the line in under 40 overs to achieve the vital bonus-point win.
An unbeaten 91-run partnership formed between Clyde Fortuin and Michael Copeland, which steered the hosts to a clinical win with 167 balls to spare.
Fortuin ended unbeaten on 63 off 61 balls (hitting five fours and three sixes) and Copeland smashed 53 not out off 44 balls (hitting four fours and two sixes), with the Rocks finishing on 139-3 in 22.1 overs.
Hawken was the pick of the Dragons bowlers as he took two for 35 in his seven overs.
Earlier on, Rocks spinning duo Shaun von Berg and Imran Manack helped restrict the North West Dragons to 138 all out in 38 overs.
Opener Lesego Senokwane top-scored for the Dragons as he scored 35 off 36 balls (hitting six fours) before a stellar one-handed throw from Adams at backward point saw him run out.
The Dragons kept on losing wickets at regular intervals in sweltering conditions in Paarl, thanks to the spinning duo Manack and Von Berg.
Von Berg ended with stellar figures of three for 19 in his 10 overs as he removed skipper Heino Kuhn (16), Delano Potgieter (1) and Proteas all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius (12).
Manack captured three for 25 in his six overs as he dismissed Christopher Britz (4), Muthusamy (18) and Renaldo Meyer (2).
A frustrating 32-run partnership between Hawken (21*) and Kerwin Mungroo (10*) formed before Ferisco Adams (2/21) bowled Mungroo as the Dragons were bowled out for 138 in 38 overs.
The Rocks have one match remaining as they host Six Gun Grill Western Province at Gbets Boland Park on Friday (13:00) for a spot to play the Lions in the One Day Cup final.
Gbets Rocks (starting XI): Janneman Malan, Valentine Kitime, Clyde Fortuin, Leus du Plooy, Christiaan Jonker, Michael Copeland, Ferisco Adams, Shaun von Berg, Imraan Manack, Bamanye Xenxe, Achille Cloete
North West Dragons (starting XI): Lesego Senokwane, Grant Mokoena, Shaylen Pillay, Heino Kuhn, Delano Potgieter, Christopher Britz, Senuran Muthusamy, Dwaine Pretorius, Eldred Hawken, Renaldo Meyer, Kerwin Mungroo