Matriculant steers Lions to T20 win against Cobras

Topsy turvy, unpredictable and breathtaking to the very last ball.

That is one way to describe the T20 challenge encounter between the bizhub Highveld Lions and Cape Cobras at Senwes Park that ultimately ended in a 3-run D/L win for the Lions on Sunday.

The 18-year-old matriculant from St. Stithians College, Wiaan Mulder, was the hero for the home team as he showcased his big match temperament with a perfect yorker to bowl his side to victory with the final delivery of the match.

The Cobras needed four runs from the final ball, as an expectant crowd held their breath – only for  screams of adulation to erupt, seconds later, as Mulder sent George Linde’s off-stump cartwheeling out the ground.

Rain shortened the second innings of the Cobras to only six overs after the Lions managed 165/5 batting first from 19.1 overs. Mangaliso Mosehle top-scored for the Lions with 58 (40), which included 3 fours and 2 sixes. Rory Kleinveldt was the pick of the Cobras bowlers with 2/24.

Although many Potchefstroomers left the stadium when the rain started bucketing down at 16:00, those who stayed were treated to a grandstand finish when play resumed at 17:50.

The Duckworth Lewis’s revised target saw the men from the Cape needing 70 from six overs – a challenging but attainable target with Richard Levi, Kieron Pollard and company in their team.

Levi looked dangerous with a four and six in the first over, but Hardus Viljoen made amends when he   clean-bowled the opener. This sent out Pollard who, with 26 (12), proceeded to dispatch a number of balls to the boundary with consummate ease. Eddie Leie was sent on to stem the flow of runs and he got the crucial wicket of Pollard, who was caught on the boundary. Nicky van den Bergh took the catch in front of his home crowd as inches separated him from the boundary rope. Pollard felt that he had hit a six, though, and was not happy with the dismissal. The umpires agreed with Van den Bergh and Pollard had to go.

This moment swung the match back in the Lions’ favour and they now needed to stay cool and calm. The Lions’ captain, Aaron Phangiso bowled a brilliant penultimate over conceding only 5 runs. It was all down to the final six balls as the Cobras still needed 15 runs.

The first ball went for two runs and the second ball was smashed for six as the sparse crowd sent out an agonising groan. Mulder redeemed himself with accurate bowling for the next three balls before getting that final ball in the perfect spot for a memorable finish to give the Lions their first win in the competition.