Play abandoned at the Wanderers
by Jason Pearce 02 December 2012, 16:02
Play was abandoned after the break in the Momentum One Day Cup match between the bizhub Highveld Lions and the Chevrolet Warriors at Bidvest Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Full Scorecard – Lions v Warriors
After winning the toss and putting the Lions in to bat, the Warriors were set a revised target of 211 to win after the home side posted 208 for six off 43 overs under overcast conditions.
Neil McKenzie and Chris Morris slammed 38 runs off just three overs and one ball as the Lions posted 208 for six off 43 overs.
An earlier shower reduced the contest to 43 overs, as the Warriors, playing purely for pride after enduring a disastrous campaign this year, gave away far too many runs in the field, gifting no less than 25 extras to the table-topping Lions.
It was not all plain-sailing however, as Andrew Birch continued to impress in an under-performing side, and together with a vintage Makhaya Ntini, the pair reduced the Lions to 60 for four in the 18th over.
Birch trapped Lions skipper and run-machine Stephen Cook LBW for 11 in the ninth over before the rain-break, while Ntini got in on the act when play resumed, removing the deadly duo of Gulam Bodi for 13 and Quinton de Kock for just three as the Lions slumped to 45 for three in the 14th over.
Jean Symes was run out for eight in the 18th over, before an 80-run partnership between Temba Bavuma and the Lions’ Mr Reliability, Neil Mckenzie, restored respectability to the total - the pair taking the score to 140 in the 34th over before Bavuma’s entertaining knock of 37 off 44 balls with five boundaries came to an end when he was caught by Birch off the bowling of JJ Smuts.
Zander de Bruyn departed in the 40th over for 15, caught behind off the hard-working Birch, who finished with 2-38 off his nine overs, while Ntini rolled back the years with an excellent return of 2-23 off nine overs.
With the home team pushing to secure top spot and an automatic home final, Morris and McKenzie accelerated the run rate, with Morris ending on 23 not out and McKenzie top-scoring with 73 not out off 96 balls with eight fours and a six.
The wash-out extends the Lions' lead at the top of table, while the Warriors remain rooted to the bottom of the log, with just one win from nine matches.
BIZHUB HIGHVELD LIONS: Stephen Cook (capt), Gulam Bodi, Quinton de Kock (w/k), Neil McKenzie, Jean Symes, Chris Morris, Temba Bavuma, Zander de Bruyn, Garnett Kruger, Aaron Phangiso, Pumelela Matshikwe.
CHEVROLET WARRIORS: Ashwell Prince, Jon-Jon Smuts, Christiaan Jonker, Colin Ackerman, Davy Jacobs (capt, w/k), Wayne Parnell, Craig Thyssen, Ayabulela Gqamane, Basheer Walters, Andrew Birch, Makhaya Ntini.
