Warriors cruise past Lions and into final

THE Warriors booked themselves a spot in the CSA T20 Challenge final when they beat the Highveld Lions last night by seven wickets in the playoff qualifier at St George’s Park.

A match-winning, unbeaten partnership of 78 runs for the fourth between Colin Ingram and Christiaan Jonker ensured that the Warriors will now face the Titans at SuperSport Park in Centurion for trophy honours on Friday evening.

Set 137 to win, the Warriors overcame a dangerous period through eight overs to cruise home comfortably with 10 balls to spare.

Ingram used all of his years of experience to lead the side home with help of Jonker.

The lefthander scored 56 not out off 46 balls with three fours and two sixes and the Jonker made an unbeaten 27.

The Warriors got off to a flying start but the in-form Jon-Jon Smuts was undone when he skied Hardus Viljoen to Rassie van der Dussen for 11.

The home side were 22 for one in the third over but a belligerent knock from Clyde Fortuin of 27 off 16 balls got them back on track.

But when he lost his wicket and Colin Ackermann was bowled by Aaron Phangiso the Warriors will have felt some pressure on 60 for three in the eighth over.

It needed a solid partnership, and Ingram and Jonker provided just that to secure the Warriors a chance at some much-needed silverware on Friday night.

Earlier, the Lions won the toss and opted to bat on a good surface.

At the halfway mark they looked set for a total around the 160-plus mark.

But the introduction of spinners Jon-Jon Smuts and Colin Ingram put the skids on the latter part of their innings and the Lions crumbled under the pressure they created.

They lost wickets at regular intervals and were eventually restricted to 136 for seven – some distance short of a total they would have preferred.

The start was solid thanks to Rassie van der Dussen and Reeza Hendricks, who took on the Warriors seamers and played intelligently.

Fast bowler Sisanda Magala made the initial breakthrough with the first ball of his second over, the fifth of the innings. He produced a full length delivery which Van der Dussen played around to have his middle stump uprooted. He made 21 off 15 balls and departed with the total on 33.

Proteas star Temba Bavuma (10) was next in and he slammed two fours before he was out trying to loft legspinner Ingram for a maximum.

Hendricks struck the ball well until he presented Christiaan Jonker with a simple catch at long on off Aya Gqamane. He made 32 off as many balls including four boundaries.

In the meantime, Smuts was brought into the attack and he picked up a wicket bowling the dangerous Mangaliso Mosehle with a straight delivery. Mosehle made 25 and got himself out when he was looking quite comfortable.

Ingram collected his second scalp bowling Nicky van den Bergh (14) to finish with two for 24 in his four overs.

The innings was starting to go south for the Lions as the homeside picked up another two wickets with Magala trapping Wiaan Mulder (5) leg before wicket and Hardus Viljoen (1) being run out. — reevesa@timesmedia.co.za