Warriors are through to the semifinals in the Pro20/20 series when they beat Lions by six runs at Axxess St Georges on a slow dead wicket.
Davy Jacobs won the toss and had no hesitation in announcing they would bat first.
Batting did not come easy to the Warriors as the pitch that looked good before play started, ended playing slow with the ball not coming off the pitch in any great hurry.
Initial batting was around 3 runs per over for the first 5 overs. The boys battling to get the ball away. A pulled six by Davy Jacobs in the 6th over, started the slow but steady climb of the run rate getting to 6.1 by the end of 20 overs.
Davy was first to fall, stumped of Paul Harris’ first delivery of his spell, making 22 off 24 balls.
Ashwell Prince was next to go bowled by Harris on 16 off 19 balls. Master Blaster batsman, JJ Smuts along with Mark Boucher set a 38 run partnership for the third wicket, which included a massive six which Boucher lambasted over the chalets into Park Drive.
Smuts out for 26 off 24 balls which included 3 fours.Another two wickets fell in consecutive overs when Boucher was bowled by DeBruyn and Thyssen skying one to McKenzie which he took easily in the deep off O’Reilly’s bowling.
Kreusch and Boje tried to take it to the end, but was not to be as Boje was caught by O’Relly off Thomas for 6 and Kreusch in the 19 over caught by Symes off Frylinck.
This left Meyer and Rusty Theron to negotiate the final over, Theron tried a Dilshan paddle shot which did not work and went back to normal batting with a straight bat and scored four, two and four off the last three balls, setting a target of 122 for 7 which the Lions had to chase.
A low target in anyone’s diary as the average at Axxess St Georges is around 134 runs.
Lions started quickly with the first two over going for 5 runs apiece. after 5 overs Lions were batting at 6.4 runs to the over and a win was on the cards for the Lions. Three wickets fell in the space of 4 overs which stalled the chase a bit as the Lions regrouped and set about the total.
By the tenth over the Lions were batting at a comfortable 6.2 runs to the over. Then part Time spinner Smuts joined the frey and the runs dried up and wickets fell. Smuts’ first victim Goolam Bodi, caught by Davy Jacobs on 21 runs off 28 balls. Smut’s next removed Symes, being stumped by Boucher on 4. At the other end Boje had removed Zander de Bruyn with one of the classic dismissals I have seen in a long time. The ball pitching leg stump and removing off stump. Zander out on 26 off 27 balls.
Lyall Meyer bowled his first over of the match in the 19 th over and quickly removed Tsoleile and Frylinck in consecutive balls and narrowly missing on a caught and bowled on his hattrick ball as Thomas lofted on back to Meyer which was centimetres out of reach above his head.
With Rusty bowling the last over and 17 runs required by the Lions, it was do or die.
First ball of the final over Thomas managed a thick edge through slip region for 4, next was a dot ball right in the block-hole. Thomas lashed at the third ball and resulted in another 4 runs.fourth ball bowled at a good length could only mange a single to mid off.
Fifth ball goes straight to Boucher but they run hard for a bye.
Last ball Rusty sends down a slow yorker ball , completely unplayable.. Lions 116 in 20 overs.
Warriors win by 6 runs and climb to the top of the log, securing a place in the Semi-finals along with the Dolphins.
Only 4 sixes were managed in the match, two apiece, and 8 fours apiece, consolidating the fact the wicket was playing slow.
Master Blaster Batsman was JJ Smuts for his 26 off 24 balls and Master Blaster Bowler for Lyall Meyer for his 2 for 6 in one over.
Warriors next and final round robin match is against the Cobras in Newlands on Friday 18th February, starting at 6. Titans Play Knights at Centurion and Dolphins against the Lions in Durban.
Feb 25th is the first semi at a venue to be decided after Fridays matches and the second semi final on the 27th Feb.
| Teams | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | N/R | Pts | Net RR |
| Warriors | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | +0.025 |
| Dolphins | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | -0.178 |
| Titans | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | +0.546 |
| Cape Cobras | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | +0.029 |
| Lions | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -0.083 |
| Knights | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -0.556 |
Alan Straton
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