A massive career best score from youngster Neil Timmers powered the DP World Lions to a comfortable nine-wicket win over World Sports Betting Eastern Storm in a high-scoring first Super 8 match of the YesPlay Pro20 Cup at DP World Wanderers in Johannesburg on Wednesday night.
The 22-year-old Timmers, in just his sixth T20 match, easily eclipsed the 39 he hit for the Jozi Super Kings in the SA20 at the start of the year, as he started slowly before growing in confidence and slamming his way to a brilliant maiden century, finishing unbeaten on 107 off 55 balls (13x4; 5x6).
He was assisted by fellow opener Zubayr Hamza, 45 off 26 (6x4; 3x6), and Rassie van der Dussen, 48no off 27 (1x4; 4x6), as they ended up making light work of the 199-run target, as they finished on 204-1 after 18 overs.
🟡🔵 | MATCH RESULT 1 down, 3 more to go. A big-scoring game comes to a close as we comfortably bag our first win of the Super 8 stage!😁 🦁DP World Lions win by 9 wickets Next up, the Jukskei Derby right here at the iconic DP World Wanderers on Sunday, 1 November!🏏🏟️⚡️ Top Performers: Bjorn Fortuin - 2/33 (4 Overs) Neil Timmers - 107* off 55 balls Rassie vd Dussen - 46* off 27 balls #DPWorldLionsCricket #TheGoldStandard #YesPlayPro20Cup #ThePrideOfJozi
— DP World Lions (@DPWorldLions) October 28, 2026
The Storm batted first and were led by their openers, Ronan Herrmann, 62 off 38 balls (7x4; 3x6) and Kabelo Sekhukhune, 45 off 25 (6x4; 2x6), as their century partnership set the platform for their 198-6 total at the end of their 20 overs.
But the Lions got their chase off to a flyer, as Hamza dominated the first five overs, scoring 44 of their 50 runs over that period, before Timmers unleashed in the final over of the powerplay, crashing Thabiso Lekhoana for three fours and a six as 18 came off it and took them to 68-0.
Hamza then became the only wicket to fall in the innings, top edging spinner Tumelo Simelane to Lekhoana at short third man, with the score 72-1.
That brought in Van Der Dussen and he was practically a spectator at first, as Timmers took centre stage in their unbeaten 132-run partnership, cruising past 50 and onto a superb 49-ball century, before some late six hitting from Van Der Dussen took the Lions home with 12 balls to spare.
LATE WICKETS CURTAIL STORM
At the start of play the Lions won the toss and chose to field, with the Storm getting their innings off to a great start thanks to top batting from their openers as they shared the strike well during the powerplay.
Three boundaries from Sekhukhune off Siya Plaatjie in the second over and three from Herrmann off Codi Yusuf in the third, saw them race to 35 off the first three, and Sekhukhune brought up their 50 in style in the fifth over with a superb switch hit off Bjorn Fortuin for six.
A big six from Sekhukhune over deep square leg off Wilco de Bruin at the start of the last over of the powerplay, followed by two boundaries from Herrmann saw 15 off it and 68 off the first six.
The good batting continued after the powerplay, and an action packed ninth over saw Herrmann club two sixes off Plaatjie to reach a 30-ball half century, followed by a single to bring up the team;s 100.
But the Lions fought back over the next six overs, as they limited the Storm to just 39 runs while picking up three wickets, as spinner Nqaba Peter got the breakthrough in the 10th over, with a slower ball outfoxing Herrmann as he hit it straight to Van Der Dussen at deep cover, with the score 106-1.
Fortuin then trapped Sekhukhune LBW after he tried to switch hit again, and in the 15th had Jurie Snyman (12) caught at wide long on, as they slipped to 139-3.
Christopher Britz, 37 off 24 (3x4; 2x6) and Dewan Marais, 33 off 19 (3x4; 2x6), showed some impetus with a strong 54-run stand off 27 balls to boost the Storm, but three late wickets and a tight final over saw them finish just short of 200.