Magala and Richards star as Lions claim comfortable win against Rocks

The Imperial Lions eased to a six-wicket victory against the Gbets Rocks in a Cricket SA One-Day Cup clash at Boland Park on Monday.

The Lions' bowlers had dominated the home team, with Sisanda Magala claiming his second six-wicket haul in this season's competition, while Malusi Siboto picked up four, as the Rocks were bowled out for 224.

The Lions reached the required target with 42 balls to spare, thanks to half-centuries from opener Joshua Richards, who made 67 and the veteran Reeza Hendricks who scored 56.

Magala took 6-46 as the Rocks were limited to a below-par total despite a century from their captain Pieter Malan.

Magala, left out of the Proteas squad for the One-Day series with Bangladesh, is the leading wicket-taker in the competition, moving his record for the season up to 17 after Monday's performance.

Magala's first wicket was that of Stiaan van Zyl, who he yorked for nought in the third over. The Rocks then took control with Malan first sharing a second-wicket partnership worth 109 runs with Ruan Terblanche, who scored 51 and then a 50-run third-wicket partnership with Clyde Fortuin, who made 32.

Despite scoring quickly early in the innings, the Rocks found themselves tied down by the Lions' left-arm spinner, Bjorn Fortuin, who conceded just 33 runs in his 10 overs.

Malan, who's had a sub-par tournament thus far, given the form he showed in the T20 Challenge, which the Rocks won and in the four-day series, where he finished as the top run-scorer, held his side's innings together, facing 125 balls and hitting nine fours and a six in what was his 13th one-day domestic century.

Magala returned for his second spell and changed the course of the innings with three wickets in the 39th over. He induced a false stroke from Malan, by deceiving him with a slower ball, that the opener slapped to Wiaan Mulder at mid-on after Malan made 104.

Two balls later, Michael Copeland drove loosely and was caught by Mitchell van Buuren in the covers and off the penultimate delivery, Christiaan Joncker bottom edged the ball onto his middle stump.

Siboto, who'd picked up Terblanche and Fortuin's wickets earlier, returned to wrap up the Rocks' tail, to finish with 4-32 in eight overs.

Richards and Ryan Rickelton, who, despite being part of the Proteas squad, decided to fly down to Paarl to join his provincial teammates, shared an opening partnership of 77 that came at just under five runs an over. That relieved the pressure on a batting lineup that has struggled in two of three previous matches in the competition.

Richards' knock, in which he made 67 came off 84 balls and included eight fours and a six, was another demonstration of his talent, although for most of this season he has struggled with his confidence.

Leg-spinner Shaun von Berg briefly raised the spirits of the home side when he dismissed both openers. Rickelton struck a delivery straight back to Von Berg, giving him an easy catch after making 29 off 40 balls and included four fours, while Richards was caught by wicketkeeper Fortuin, attempting a drive.

Reeza Hendricks, who struck three fours in a 63-ball stay at the crease, and Lions captain Dominic Hendricks added 55 for the third wicket to ease the tension. The match ended with a no-ball from Ziyaad Abrahams.

ROCKS: Pieter Malan (capt), Stiaan van Zyl, Ruan Terblanche, Clyde Fortuin, Michael Copeland, Christiaan Joncker, Ferisco Adams, Shaun von Berg, Siyabonga Mahima, Zakhele Qwabe, Ziyaad Abrahams

LIONS: Ryan Rickelton, Joshua Richards, Dominic Hendricks (capt), Reeza Hendricks, Mitchell van Buuren, Wiaan Mulder, , Sisanda Magala, Bjorn Fortuin, Malusi Siboto, Tshepo Ntuli, Duanne Olivier,