The left-arm spin of Dale Deeb and the pace of  Pumelela Matshikwe destroyed the Cape Cobras in 30 overs on Sunday to engineer a comprehensive victory by an innings and 35 runs.

The Cobras resumed their second innings of 51 for one, needing 178 just to make the Lions bat again, but more focused on batting out the day.

That notion was swiftly dispelled when Deeb dismissed Keegan Petersen  (23) and Dane Vilas (12), both to excellent catches by Neil McKenzie in the slips, and Matshikwe ended Omphile Ramela’s watchful stand of 32, caufght behind off a fine edge, and followed that shortly afterwards by removing Yaseen Vallie, who holed out to mid-wicket.

Withe top order safely out of the way, Sean Jamison stepped up to dismiss Shaheen Khan, George Linde and Sybrandt Engelbrecht within the space of six wickets.

Jamison ended with 4-53 in the innings and 8-119 in the match, while Deeb picked up 4-40 and Matshikwe 2-26.

The Lions, picking up 17.97 points, went to the top of the table on 62.40, while the Cobra remain bottom on 15.66 from three games, having picked up 5 this week.

At least the Dolphins went down fighting. Set an impossible target of  target of  426, and 77-4 overnight, the last six wickets put on 239 as they lost by 109 runs on Sunday.

Imraan Khan, 56 when he resumed his innings, moved on to 103, off 163 balls with 21 fours, before lunch, whereupon Daryn Smit, who came in when Craig Alexander retired hurt on 0 overnight, took up the gauntlet and ended unbeaten on 84. He was given good support by Keshav Maharaj, whose 44 off 73 balls with seven fours and a six, contributed to an eighth-wicket stand of 82, and by Alexander, who bravely returned to the field to score 200.

Basheeru-Deen Walters and Andrew Birch hammered away for the last five wickets  after lunch, when 131 runs were added in 33 overs.