The Cape Cobras made it three Ram Slams in a row when they strangled the Warriors to win by 10 runs at Paarl.
They leapt into second place on 12 points after two wins at the weekend, although the Titans still reign supreme, despite suffering their second washout in the series, latest against the Highveld Lions.
The Warriors, however, languish at the bottom of the log with just one win from six matches. Their target of 160 to win was not particularly formidable; but the Cobras bowlers made it more so by ripping out the openers Gihahn Cloete (2) and Jon-Jon Smuts (12) in four overs.
After five overs, Rory Kleinveldt had the impressive figures of 1-9 off three and Dane Paterson 1-10 off two.
Then Colins Ingram and Ackermann desperately tried to repair the damage and were looking good at 92-2 after 13 overs, but then left-arm spinner George Linde removed Ingram for 38 off 30.
Ackermann battled on, eventually falling for 55, but by the end of the 16th over, the required run rate was 10 an over, which proved too much.
Paterson ended with 3-25 and Ferisco Adams 2-38, but equally importantly, Kleinveldt gave away just 16 runs off four overs.
The Cobras owed their offering to Hashim Amla (52), Temba Bavuma (42) and George Linde (52*).
Amla and Bavuma were untroubled in the power play, putting on a comfortable 39 at 6.5 and moving on to 90 after 12 overs, before Sisanda Magala made the breakthrough, dismissing Amla for his 27th T20 fifty.
Bavuma went for 42 two overs later, and by the 17th over the Cobras were four down for 122. Andrew Birch was the spearhead, taking the wickets of JP Duminy (6) and Qaasim Adams (0) within three balls.
Linde, though, stood firm and lashed 52 off 30 balls (3×4, 2×6) to give his bowlers something to defend.
Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix
