Warriors blown away by Lions’ Gayle-force as Cobras, Knights win

EAST LONDON: Chris Gayle hammered a 51-ball century as the Highveld Lions swept aside the Warriors in their Ram Slam T20 clash at Buffalo Park last night.

Gayle smashed 108 not out off 55 balls to take the Lions to their target of 145 in just 14.2 overs without losing a wicket as the visitors became the third side to take a bonus-point win off the Warriors in as many games.

Lundi Mbane was the only Warriors bowler to escape punishment from Gayle, with the other four frontline bowlers going for more than 11 runs per over.

Opening partner Alviro Petersen was largely content to watch the spectacle from the non-striker’s end, scoring 29 in 35 balls.

The Warriors’ total of 144/6 was reliant on their overseas professional Craig Kieswetter, who batted through the innings to finish unbeaten on 82 off 64 balls.

The hosts opted for a cautious start after winning the toss and electing to bat, notching up 67/1 in the first 10 overs, but the tactic backfired when Eddie Leie (3/19) took three wickets in five balls.

Kieswetter was unable to cut loose after wickets had fallen at the other end and he became short on quality partners, but he did take 27 off the final over to give the Warriors something to bowl at.

Against any other opponent they might have been able to compete, but with Gayle in full flow they were simply blown away.

Sybrand Engelbrecht and Mthokozisi Shezi masterminded a Dolphins batting collapse to allow the Cape Cobras to waltz to a bonus-point win at Newlands.

The Dolphins appeared on course for a competitive score after progressing to 73/1 in the 10th over, but wickets tumbled in the second half of their knock and they ulti- mately finished on 127/9.

The Cobras had no trouble chasing the total down inside the 16-over mark – the requirement to pick up a bonus point – as their top three all contributed.

Richard Levi and Andrew Puttick provided a roaring start, taking 62 off the first five overs, and after Levi had been dismissed for a 23-ball 44, Puttick and Omphile Ramela were able to slip into cruise control.

While Ramela got out for 28 with the target in sight, Puttick finished unbeaten on 48 off 39 balls as the Cobras got home in 15.4 overs to win by eight wickets.

George Linde had been the man to spark the Dolphins’ collapse as he had Divan van Wyk caught at long leg, but it was Engelbrecht who claimed the key wickets of Cameron Delport (46) and Dwayne Bravo.

Engelbrecht finished with fig- ures of 3/19 from his four overs, while Shezi took 3/23 after picking up the wickets of Vaughn van Jaarsveld (28) and Sibonelo Makhanya.

The Knights beat the Titans by 35 runs at Centurion.

The Knights compiled 179/7, their top four all contributing, while Darren Sammy took 3/21.

The home side were then restricted to 144/5, despite opener Dean Elgar’s 65.