Eastern Cape Warriors defeated South Australia Redbacks by 30 runs to enter the final of the Champions League Twenty20 tournament.
The Warriors outplayed South Australia in every department in Saturday's semifinal. After Warriors had scored 175 for six in its allotted 20 overs, thanks to a second-wicket partnership of 104 between captain Davey Jacobs (61, 41b, 10x4, 1x6) and Colin Ingram (46), the bowlers sealed the win.
Left-armer Lonwabo Tsotsobe delivered a crucial spell with the new ball to impair the chase. He dismissed in-form openers Daniel Harris and Michael Klinger to reduce South Australia to 21 for two.
Nicky Boje caught Graham Manou off his bowling and Johan Botha had Cameron Borgas caught at mid-wicket to further hurt South Australia. Boje and Botha bowled with control on a track responsive to spin as the asking rate climbed to more than two runs per ball.
Good knock
Callum Ferguson (71) batted splendidly under pressure and attempted to control the chase, but the Warriors wouldn't be denied.
Earlier, South Australia began well with the ball. Shaun Tait removed Ashwell Prince and gave away only two runs in the first over.
But, Jacobs and Ingram counter-attacked spectacularly, punishing some undisciplined bowling and making South Australia pay for poor catching.
The left-handed Ingram, who was reprieved thrice in his knock, began by smashing left-arm spinner Aaron O'Brien for two fours and a six in the second over.
Jacobs treated Tait with disdain, driving the fast-bowler down the ground before swatting him for six. Jacobs followed that with a four through mid-wicket.
The Warriors raced to 77 for one in seven overs before O'Brien's superb return (2-0-4-0) and Harris' canny performance (4-0-18-3) helped South Australia restrict the Warriors to 75 runs in 72 balls between overs eight and 19.
But Nicky Boje and Justin Kreusch scored 23 runs in the 20th over to finish strongly.
The scores:
Eastern Cape Warriors: D. Jacobs c & b Harris 61 ( 41b, 10x4, 1x6 ),
A. Prince c Harris b Tait 0 ( 1b ), C. Ingram c Christian b Bailey 46 ( 35b, 3x4, 1x6 ), M. Boucher c Christian b Harris 25 ( 21b, 2x4, 1x6 ), C. Thyssen c Manou b Harris 1 ( 3b ), J. Botha c Putland b Tait 6 (8b), J. Kreusch (not out) 7 ( 4b, 1x6 ), N. Boje (not out) 22 ( 7b, 2x4, 2x6 ); Extras (b-2, lb-3, w-2): 7. Total (for six wkts in 20 overs): 175.
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-105, 3-119, 4-124, 5-143, 6-146.
South Australia bowling: Tait 4-0-38-2, O'Brien 3-0-22-0, Putland 2-0-19-0, Christian 3-0-45-0, Bailey 4-0-28-1, Harris 4-0-18-3.
South Australia Redbacks: D. Harris c Boucher b Tsotsobe 8 ( 14b, 1x4 ), M. Klinger c Botha b Tsotsobe 13 ( 9b, 1x4, 1x6 ), G. Manou c & b Boje 8 ( 13b, 1x4 ), C. Ferguson lbw b Botha 71 ( 49b, 8x4, 2x6 ), C. Borgas c Jacobs b Botha 10 ( 7b, 2x4 ), D. Christian b Theron 19 ( 23b, 1x6 ), T. Cooper run out 6 ( 3b, 1x4 ), A. O' Brien (not out) 1 ( 2b ); Extras ( lb-3, w-6 ): 9;Total (for seven wkts. in 20 overs): 145.
Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-21, 3-49, 4-60, 5-134, 6-142, 7-145.
Warriors bowling: Theron 4-0-21-1, Tsotsobe 4-0-16-2, Ntini 2-0-22-0, Boje 4-0-32-1, Botha 4-0-34-2, Kreusch 2-0-17-0.
