Highveld Lions’ lack of hitting oomph trips them again
A night of drama in the Ram Slam as the Titans lose for the first time this season and the Dolphins explode in Bloemfontein.
A mediocre performance in the field cost the Highveld Lions again. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)
Lack of hitting power has been a problem for the Highveld Lions for a few seasons now and it cost them again on Friday night as they lost by four runs to the Warriors in the domestic T20 challenge.
A Potchefstroom thunderstorm had left them with a target of 97 off 10 overs but they couldn’t find a batsman to aggressively take control.
In-form Reeza Hendricks finished unbeaten on 41 but only hit three fours in his 28-ball stay, which simply isn’t quick enough in chase of that nature.
The Lions had kept up with the required rate until the end of the seventh overs but Dwaine Pretorius’ run out saw them panic.
That said, they probably would’ve ended up chasing a big total anyway as a Warriors skipper Jon-Jon Smuts’ unbeaten 69 had guided his side to 133/4 after 17.1 overs before the rain came.
The Cape Cobras took a huge step towards a possible home semifinal as they became the first team to beat the Titans in this year’s tournament, winning by three wickets.
Coach Ashwell Prince has been richly rewarded by backing his rookies in this campaign as Ferisco Adams (20 off 12) and George Linde (16 off 11) kept their heads superbly.
The Capetonians had slumped to 88/6 in a moderate chase of 133.
Junior Dala (2/15), Tabraiz Shamsi (2/25) and Chris Morris (2/22) strangled the brittle Cobras middle-order but the Titans didn’t have enough runs to play with.
Earlier, Dane Paterson continued his outstanding recent form with a splendid spell of 3/28.
In Bloemfontein, the Dolphins, who have suffered an incredible five washouts in this tournament, took their opportunity to actually finish a game by beating the Knights by six wickets.
Chasing an imposing 166 in 17 overs, Morne van Wyk and Dane Vilas exploded with a partnership of 88 off 40 balls after the Durbanites slumped to 36/2.
Veteran Van Wyk was outstanding in his unbeaten 43-ball 70 while Vilas hit six sixes in his 51 off 22 balls.
David Miller (46) and Ryan McLaren (48) were standouts for the hosts.
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