Johannesburg - A career-best 90 runs from Gulam Bodi, and some outstanding bowling, cemented a massive victory for the Lions over the Warriors, in their T20 Challenge match at the Wanderers on Wednesday.
Winning by 115 runs, the Lions strengthened their position at the top of the log with two more games to play.
Chasing 200 for victory, the Warriors were never really in it and they were completely overwhelmed by the Lions’ attack.
Dirk Nannes’ pace first up beat both Jon Jon Smuts (1) and Ashwell Prince (4) with the noise of the splayed stumps reverberating around the ground.
With his second over being a wicket maiden, he conceded just nine runs from his three overs, taking the two wickets.
Chris Morris then chipped in this his 2-7, seeing off Colin Ingram (8) and Kelly Smuts (5).
The rest of the innings was a regular procession of batsmen walking back to the changeroom, with only Johan Botha (15 runs off 23 balls) and Athenkosi Dyili (15 off 12), offering any resistance.
Jean Symes was the match referee’s choice for player of the match for his career-best bowling figures of 3-5, though Nannes did the damage at the top of the innings and deserved most of the credit.
However, it was an all-round, superb performance as the Lions bowled out a team for the third time in this competition.
Sent in to bat first, Bodi and Quinton de Kock set up the Lions’ total of 199/6 with a second-wicket partnership of 90 runs from 44 balls (10 fours, four sixes).
The 19-year-old De Kock, who is the top scorer for the Lions in the competition, smashed 46 runs off 26 balls (6x4, 2x6) before he was out, lbw to Nicky Boje.
Bodi and Neil McKenzie (37) then combined for 85 runs before the latter was bowled by Rusty Theron.
Bodi went on to score 90 and earn the batsman of the match award. - Sapa