The Nashua Cape Cobras lost two wickets in the last over as the Chevrolet Warriors secured a nail biting three-run win in their Standard Bank Pro20 semifinal at Axxess DSL St George's in Port Elizabeth on Friday.

Chasing the Warriors 149 for three the visitors began the last over needing eight runs to win the match.

Fast bowler Rusty Theron was responsible for bowling the last six balls and he Vernon Philander (4) caught by Ashwell Prince at deep midwicket with his second delivery.

Robin Peterson picked up three runs off the next two balls before Rory Kleinveldt played a delivery straight back to the bowler to be run out without scoring.

With the Cobras needing four runs off the last delivery Theron served up a dot ball as the visitors ended on 146 for eight.

Peterson ended not out on 50 off 46 balls as the home side took a 1-0 lead in the best of three semifinal series with Theron ending with figures of two for 23.

After slipping to 67 for four the Cobras had looked to be in control of the match thanks to a 61-run fifth-wicket partnership between Peterson and Justin Kemp.

The duo took the score to 128 in the 18th over before Kemp fell for 43 when he chipped a delivery from seamer Lyall Meyer to deep square leg with the visitors needing 22 runs off 13 balls.

Earlier, Colin Ingram set up the Warriors’ innings with a superb unbeaten half-century.

The left-handed Ingram reached his fifty in some style by slamming a delivery from paceman Francois Plaatjies straight back over the bowler’s head for six before ending not out on 60 off 41 deliveries with his knock including five fours and three sixes.

After the Warriors had been reduced to 53 for three Ingram and his captain Davy Jacobs took control of proceedings as the pair plundered 96 runs for the fourth wicket off a mere 63 balls.

Jacobs played a fine hand of 42 not out off 32 balls as the home side, who had won the toss and elected to bat, overcame a pitch that was a touch on the slow side.

The Warriors struggled to 58 for three after 11 overs before Jacobs and Ingram upped the scoring rate by helping themselves to a six apiece off an over from left-arm spinner Peterson.

The Eastern Cape franchise were given a decent start by Jon-Jon Smuts with the opening batsman scoring 24 off 19 balls before being bowled by seamer Vernon Philander.

Philander, Peterson and Monde Zondeki ended with a wicket each.

A highlight in the field for the visitors came courtesy of a super catch from Richard Levi.

Levi sprinted from mid-off to extra-cover to take a diving, one-handed grab to account for the left-handed Ashwell Prince (5) to give Peterson his only wicket of the innings.

The semifinal series now moves to Cape Town with the second leg to be played at Newlands on Wednesday.