CSA T20 CHALLENGE WRAP: DP WORLD LIONS SECURE HOME SEMIFINAL
On Sunday, DP World Lions ensured they could not be stopped at the summit, securing first place with a 7-wicket triumph over AET Tuskers as Nqaba Peter (3/15) continued his incredible rise in 2024.
The Lions too were easy winners thanks to Nqaba’s three-for that kept the Tuskers down to 132/9 at DP World Wanderers Stadium.
This after the home side elected to bowl at the toss, with Zubayr Hamza (49) and Rassie van der Dussen (51* off 35 balls, 2 fours, 3 sixes) eating into most of the runs during the chase, the Johannesburg side winning with 15 balls to spare.
On Friday, a scrambled final-ball single helped the Momentum Multiply Titans steal a thrilling derby win over log-leaders DP World Lions and ensure the race for the Cricket South Africa (CSA) T20 Challenge play-offs goes down to the wire.
Titans claimed a 2-wicket victory over their cross Jukskei rivals, who missed the chance of confirming home advantage in the last four.
In a tight affair, the Titans won the toss, bowled first and restricted the Lions to 154/8 thanks in the main to David Wiese (1/22), Lungi Ngidi (2/26) and Dayyaan Galiem (1/20).
Reeza Hendricks (48) top-scored for the visitors, who also had 20s from Proteas captain Temba Bavuma, Delano Potgieter (both 21) and Wiaan Mulder (25).
The Titans made a bright start to the chase after openers Rivaldo Moonsamy (24) and Lhuan-dre Pretorius (29) put on 49 in 5.5 overs, but they then lost their way when Codi Yusuf (1/25), Evan Jones (2/33), Mulder (1/24) and impressive rookie Nqaba Peter (2/29) all struck.
That left the defending champions heading for defeat at 135/8 with two overs to go.
However, Corbin Bosch (19) and Lungi Ngidi (2) managed to get the 20 required, including the former stealing a bye from the last ball to take the hosts to a priceless win, one that helped them cling on to fourth place on the table.
Earlier in the week, the DP World Lions clinched a commanding 43-run victory over the Dafabet Warriors in a top-of-the-table clash on Wednesday, fuelled by Ryan Rickelton’s impressive half-century of 52 runs off just 38 deliveries.
Opting to field first after winning the toss, the Warriors aimed to put pressure on their visitors. However, Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks had other plans as they kickstarted the Lions’ innings with a stellar 58-run partnership. Hendricks’ contribution came to an end at 31 runs, courtesy of Siya Simetu.
Despite facing regular setbacks following the opening partnership, the Lions managed to muster a competitive total of 152/9.
Nealan van Heerden shone for the Warriors’ bowling unit, returning impressive figures of 4/23.
The Lions’ bowling attack, led by Wiaan Mulder (4/14), immediately put the hosts on the back foot. Lutho Sipamla initiated the onslaught by dismissing Warriors’ skipper, Matthew Breetzke, for 16 runs.
Mulder then wreaked havoc, claiming key wickets including Jiveshan Pillay (7), Jordan Herman (6), Liam Alder (19), and Simetu (8).
The Warriors struggled to build any significant partnerships as wickets continued to tumble, eventually succumbing to a total of 109 runs, with the Lions’ bowling attack proving too formidable to overcome.
Upcoming Lions Matches
CSA T20 Challenge Semifinal 1:
Wednesday, 24 April 2024 @18h00: DP World Lions vs Momentum Multiply Titans – DP World Wanderers, Johannesburg.