Four wickets by DP World Lions allrounder Wiaan Mulder was the catalyst that saw them claim a bonus-point 43-run against the Dafabet Warriors in their CSA T20 Challenge clash in Gqeberha on Wednesday.
Mulder struck crucial blows to finish with figures of 4-14 from his four over spell while Evan Jones claimed 2-17 from 3.1 overs to restrict the Warriors to 108 all out and five balls left in the innings after the Lions posted 152/9 in their 20 overs.
The bonus point sees the Lions go one point ahead of the Warriors on 40 [points after 11 matches, with all to play for in the final two matches of the group stage. Earlier, a devastating spell of fast bowling by Warriors seamer Van Heerden saw him claim four wickets after a Ryan Rickelton half century saw the Lions reach 152/9 at the halfway stage.
Chasing 153 for victory, the hosts got off to a disastrous start, losing four wickets in the powerplay as the Lions’ bowlers tore into the Warriors’ top order removing skipper Matthew Breetzke (16) and Andile Mokgakane (6).
More wickets fell before the end of the powerplay, as Jiveshan Pillay was trapped leg before wicket by Wiaan Mulder for seven runs, while Evan Jones had Sinethemba Qeshile (4) caught by Nqaba Peter to leave the Warriors reeling on 32/4, having hit just two fours and a six after six overs.
Jordan Hermann (6) was out caught and bowled by Mulder while Patrick Kruger fell to the leg spin of Junaid Dawood as they slipped to 40/6 after eight overs.
The team total moved past 50 in the tenth over, still 102 runs behind with 60 balls left in the match.
Beyers Swanepoel and Liam Alder shared 36 runs for the seventh wicket, but when Swanepoel was dismissed for 22 by Jones and Alder fell for 19 to Mulder, the writing looked on the wall for the home side.
LIONS ROAR TO THE TOP
A clinical display from the @LionsCricketSA to earn a convincing bonus point W over the Warriors
Lions now lead by 1️⃣-point#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #CSAT20Challenge pic.twitter.com/kn5GCFlFdv
— CSA Domestic Leagues (@DomesticCSA) April 17, 2024
Siya Simetu (8) and Nealan van Heerden (14) shared 27 runs, taking the Warriors past 100 but he would perish trying to clear the ropes before his lower-order colleague was run out to close out the innings.
After being put into bat by the Warriors, Rickelton shared a half century stand with Reeza Hendricks for the first wicket to get the Lions off to a fast start.
Source: SABC
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