The Nashua Dolphins beat the Chevrolet Warriors by 22 runs in the MTN40 match at the City Oval in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday.
The Dolphins totalled a team record of 311/6 in their allotted 40 overs while the Warriors mustered 289 all out in 39.3 overs in their turn at the crease.
A stunning MTN40 record partnership of 253 for the opening wicket between Imraan Khan and his Dolphins teammate Loots Bosman effectively destroyed any serious hope the Warriors had of mounting a winning challenge.
Bosman was at his bludgeoning best, annihilating the Warriors attack with a hurricane 150 off just 86 deliveries, hoisting a remarkable nine sixes and 12 blistering boundaries in the process.
He hit the ball all around the ground with an array of straight-driven sixes and ferocious pulls over the leg-side boundary. But it was as much his controlled aggression as those 20-odd glorious moments that had an appreciative crowd buzzing at this picturesque venue.
Khan played his role quite magnificently, knocking the ball around to ensure his partner got enough of the strike to maintain his momentum.
The skipper's 114 inside two-and-a-half hours contained 14 fours and a six and was his highest competition score, as was the effort produced by Bosman.
Yet the Warriors only have themselves to blame for not being sharp enough in the field, both openers giving chances relatively early on that could have changed the course of the match had they been pouched.
The unlikely figure of Jon-Jon Smuts shone with the ball but it was a punishing day for the more recognised Warriors bowlers.
Nicky Boje, with a classy 36 off only 23 deliveries that were highlighted by five boundaries and a couple of sixes, briefly threatened while Arno Jacobs and Justin Kreusch established a 93-run stand for the fourth wicket before the former holed out off Ravi Bopara for a well-played 44.
Kreusch batted superbly for his unbeaten 118 off 96 balls that was studded with eight fours and three sixes, while Bevan Bennett was the star in a stunning 31 runs off the 37th over bowled by Quinton Friend that gave the Warriors a flicker of hope.
But ultimately it was the Warriors' butter fingers that cost them any hope of winning this match. – Sapa