Johannesburg - The Highveld Lions, after three attempts, eventually recorded their first win of the season, beating the Warriors by nine wickets in their SuperSport match at the Wanderers on Sunday.
The match between the Cobras and Dolphins played at Newlands petered out into a tame draw.
At the Wanderers, the Warriors resumed their overnight score of 225 for three with Jon-Jon Smuts on 103 and Arno Jacobs on 13.
All was rosy in the garden, until the Lions took the new ball, then there was a flurry of wickets: Jacobs (38), Jon-Jon Smuts (143) and Kelly Smuts (1) were sent back to the hut with three wickets down for one run.
Jon-Jon Smuts had batted a tad under six hours in his 252-ball innings, which included 23 boundaries and a huge six deposited in the stands behind deep square-leg.
The fight was carried on until the bitter end with Athenkosi Dyili (56) and Wayne Parnell (60) keeping the Lions at bay.
However, in the end something had to give and, with the wicket of Parnell trapped in front by Cliffe Deacon, the innings was all over.
The Lions began their second spell at the crease needing 142 to win. Stephen Cook and Alviro Petersen got the ball rolling with an opening partnership of 140.
With two runs needed, Petersen top-edged a Colin Ingram delivery to Arno Jacobs patrolling the covers.
The glory was left to Cook and he hit the winning runs through mid-wicket, leaving him undefeated on 67 struck off 76 balls with eight boundaries. Jonathan Vandiar had yet to score. - Sapa