Ingram pounds the Lions’ attack
CLASSY: LEFT-HANDER SMASHES SUPERB 89 OFF 48 BALLS
Warriors chase down 183 target in the penultimate over.
The Highveld Lions bowlers could find no solution to the brilliance of Colin Ingram’s batting as the left-hander steered the Warriors to a four-wicket victory with just one over to spare in a pulsating RamSlam T20 Challenge match at Newlands yesterday.
Faced with a testing target of 183 for victory, Ingram showed what a huge talent he is as he delivered a great knock of 89 off just 48 balls, ensuring the Warriors not only chased down the highest target in a T20 franchise day game at Newlands but also ended their losing run.
Kagiso Rabada (4-0-25-3) had reduced the Warriors to 13/2, wicketkeeper Mangaliso Mosehle taking a superb catch to get rid of Gihahn Cloete (1) and dangerman Jon-Jon Smuts being comprehensively bowled for 10.
Colin Ackermann helped settle the Warriors innings with a runa-ball 17 as he and Ingram added 48 for the third wicket before Aaron Phangiso removed Ackermann, but Ingram found the ideal partner in Christiaan Jonker, who stroked 39 off 28 balls in a match-winning partnership of 93 off just 56 balls.
The Highveld Lions were earlier sent in to bat and made it to 182/3 thanks to a solid top-order display.
Openers Rassie van der Dussen and Reeza Hendricks took the Gauteng franchise to 87 after 11 overs before Van der Dussen fell victim to an awful lbw decision to Smuts, for 45.
Young Ryan Rickleton, promoted up the order to No 3, then breezed to 41 off 23 balls, while Hendricks batted through to the final over as he anchored the innings with a well-paced 81 off 63 deliveries.