Bangalore, Oct 9  J. P Duminy smashed 99 off 52 deliveries as Cape Cobras scored a thrilling five wicket victory over Royal Challengers in the opening Champions League match here Thursday.

The South African team, chasing 181, stunned the home crowd as they reached the target with just two balls to spare.

After the sparkling fireworks at the spectacular opening ceremony, Duminy provided the entertainment with the bat taking his team home single handedly. The next best contribution for Cobras was 20 runs from R. Canning.

The start of Champions League was reminiscent of the inaugural Indian Premier League match at the same venue where Royal Challengers lost the opener to Kolkata Knight riders after a similar enthralling knock that came from Brendon McCullum. Tonight Royal Challengers were at the receiving end of a Duminy onslaught. He stroked five sixes and six fours.

Royal Challengers, however, would have thought that they have enough runs on the board.

Robin Uthappa (53) and Ross Taylor (51 not out) scored belligerent half centuries after skipper Anil Kumble chose to bat. Uthappa after being dropped on 18 hit seven fours and two sixes while Taylor provided the late thrust to the innings hitting four fours and two sixes in just 24 balls.

The Cobras contributed their part in Challengers innings, dropping some easy catches as they looked nervous while playing in front of a packed stadium.

The start of the chase was also not great and Cobras were soon reduced 62 for three. Herschelle Gibbs edged Praveen Kumar behind in the first over before captain Andrew Puttick gave a leading edge to point. Henry Davids played some impressive strokes but Vinay Kumar removed him.

Duminy remained calm and waited for the opportunity to strike the boundaries. He got a life when Taylor dropped him, and then took time to unleash his array of shots.

He raced to 50 in 30 deliveries even as Challengers kept themselves in the hunt, but they too dropped some catches.

The game was wide open when the Cobras required 61 off six overs. Duminy stepped up the attack and hit Kohli for for 13 in the 16th over. Kumble and van der Merwe faced the heat and were struck for big sixes.

He then struck two successive boundaries off Praveen Kumar in the 19th over and that eased off the pressure. With nine required in the last over, Duminy hit Vinay kumar for a six, but took a run in the next ball. R. Kleinveldt scored the winning runs and Duminy remained a run short of a deserving century. (IANS)