The bottom of the table Dafabet Warriors, for the second time this campaign, pulled off a major upset to beat the top of the table DP World Lions by 50 runs in their division one CSA One-Day Cup match at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Wednesday night.
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It has been a difficult season for the Warriors, with this just their second win out of seven games in the competition, but both wins bizarrely have come against an inform team that was topping the log at the time, after they beat Western Province a week ago.
The home side were grateful to the efforts of batsmen Tristan Stubbs and captain Diego Rosier, who both struck centuries to set the Warriors on the way to their big total of 348/5 after the Lions had won the toss and chosen to bowl first.
The visitors chase was then well on course thanks to a 195-run fourth wicket stand between their own centurions, Reeza Hendricks and Wiaan Mulder, but once they fell they saw their last seven wickets tumble for 47-runs as they crashed to 298 all out.
The Lions chase got off to a rocky start when inform opener Ryan Rickleton was snagged caught behind for a sixth ball duck off the bowling of Beyers Swanepoel, while Cameron Delport (17) and Dominic Hendricks (16) didn’t trouble the scorers too much as they slipped to 56/3.
Reeza Hendricks and Mulder then came together and they powered their side into a winning position with a sublime partnership.
Reeza cracked 113 off 109 balls (11x2; 2x6), while Mulder hit 101 off 95 balls (9x4; 1x6) and they took the Lions to 251/3 in the 40th over.
However a double blow then effectively ended their challenge as both set batsmen fell within seven balls and five runs of each other, with Reeza caught by Matthew Breetzke at deep square leg off the bowling of Ziyaad Abrahams and Mulder caught by Wihan Lubbe off the bowling of Akhona Mnyaka.
Only one of the Lions last six batters made it to double figures, with Malusi Siboto scoring 10, as the Warriors bowlers ran through the rest of the order with ease.
Swanepoel ended with superb figures of 4/42 in 9.5 overs, while he was backed up well by Mnyaka who claimed 3/59 in his 10.
In the Warriors innings Stubbs hammered his way to a superb 144 off just 126 deliveries, featuring six maximums and 11 fours, while Rosier was more reserved, stroking his way to 116 off 120 balls, hitting seven fours and three sixes along the way.
The pair shared in a brilliant 244-run second wicket partnership, after they were brought together when Warriors opener Jordan Hermann (8no) retired hurt after being pegged on the toe by a Yorker from Sisanda Magala.
Opening batsman Lubbe (13) was first to fall for the home side, popping an easy catch to Delport at point off the bowling of Duanne Olivier with the Warriors on 20/1, before Hermann followed him off the field shortly after.
Stubbs and Rosier then set about their big stand, taking the Warriors past the hundred run mark, before bringing up the teams 200 in the 35th over.
Stubbs then brought up his maiden list A century in style with a superb swept six over the square leg boundary off Bjorn Fortuin, while Rosier brought up his century with a guided single down to third man off Olivier.
Stubbs swashbuckling innings then came to an end when he failed to clear the fielder at long off, off the bowling of Siboto, with the Warriors on 279/2.
Rosier was then out trying to flick a ball from Magala down to fine leg from outside off, but ended up playing it onto his own stumps with the score 312/3.
A couple of late cameos from Breetzke, 27 off 16 balls (3x4; 1x6), and Sinethemba Qeshile, 10no off seven balls (2x4), then helped the Warriors get to their total.
DAFABET WARRIORS: Wihan Lubbe, Jordan Hermann, Matthew Breetzke, Diego Rosier (capt), Lesiba Ngoepe, Tristan Stubbs, Sinethemba Qeshile (wk), Beyers Swanepoel, Akhona Mnyaka, Glenton Stuurman, Ziyaad Abrahams.
DP WORLD LIONS: Cameron Delport, Ryan Rickelton, Reeza Hendricks, Dominic Hendricks, Connor Esterhuizen, Wiaan Mulder, Sisanda Magala, Duanne Olivier, Lutho Sipamla, Bjorn Fortuin, Malusi Siboto