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Impressive Warriors secure final berth
The Warriors produced a solid, allround performance to beat the WSB Cape Cobras by 15 runs in their CSA T20 Challenge semifinal at Buffalo Park in East London on Wednesday.
Full ScorecardA fighting 73 by Cobras opener David Bedingham was not enough to stop the Warriors from claiming a berth in Sunday's final against the bizhub Highveld Lions in Johannesburg.
Incredible grit shown by the Warriors to pull themselves back into a game that looked like it was getting away from them.
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) May 1, 2019
The Warriors go on to win the match by 16 runs, and with that, book themselves a Final against the Lions.#CSAT20Challenge pic.twitter.com/fNkfF9HlpZ
Set 173 to win, the Cobras started off well with Bedingham leading the charge in a 39-ball knock that was punctuated with seven fours and four sixes.
Kyle Verreynne added 23 in a crucial 75-run stand with Bedingham for the third wicket.
But when Bedingham was well-caught by Lutho Sipamla off Andrew Birch, the Cobras were 112 for three in the 12th over. Their chase tailed off slightly in the next few overs as the Warriors bowlers turned the screws. In the end, the Cobras could reply with 157 for eight.
Sisanda Magala was particular stingy conceding only 19 runs in his four overs while claiming the prized scalp of JP Duminy for a duck and that of Rory Kleinveldt (10).
Birch took 2-37 while Sipamla also impressed in picking up his two wickets for 21.
Sipamla, who was meant to bowl the last over, pulled up with a quad injury which then required Onke Nyaku needing to defend 22 off the last over.
The seamer delivered a superb over going for only six runs while picking up the scalp of Ferisco Adams (14).
FINE RECENT FORM
Earlier, Matthew Breetzke made a half-century and Rory Kleinveldt took four wickets as the Warriors posted 172 for seven having been asked to bat.
Breetzke continued his fine recent form in smashing 60 in an impressive 38-ball innings that included three fours and four sixes. It was his second fifty of the campaign.
He and captain Jon-Jon Smuts took a firm grip on the innings after the early loss of Gihahn Cloete, who was caught by Duminy at midwicket for four while attempting a pull shot off Kleinveldt.
Breetzke and Smuts, who added 34, shared a second-wicket stand of 69 in just seven overs as the Warriors looked set for a big total.
But Kleinveldt came into the attack to pick up the vital wicket of Breetzke who skied a delivery to Aviwe Mgijima. The burly Cobras seamer then removed the dangerous Marco Marais for six before completing the four-wicket haul as Mgijima pouched another catch, this time from Onke Nyaku (6).
Kleinveldt finished with figures of 4-33 in his four overs.
WARRIORS: Jon-Jon Smuts (capt), Andrew Birch, Matthew Breetzke, Gihahn Cloete, Jade de Klerk, Lesiba Ngoepe, Sisanda Magala, Marco Marais, Onke Nyaku, Sine Qeshile (wk), Lutho Sipamla
WSB CAPE COBRAS: Aviwe Mgijima, David Bedingham, Ferisco Adams, Janneman Malan, Jason Smith, Jean-Paul Duminy, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Nkululeko Serame, Rory Kleinveldt (capt), Tladi Bokako, Dane Paterson
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