An unbeaten half century from opener Nathan Roux (52*) anchored the Eastern Cape linyathi to an upset victory by seven wickets in their CSA YesPlay Pro20 Cup Eastern Cape derby against their ‘big brother’ Dafabet Warriors at Buffalo Park in KuGompo City on Saturday afternoon.
Roux added 63 for the third wicket with Jason Niemand who was out lbw to seamer Matthew Boast for 44 with just two runs required for victory, but the Division Two side completed victory with 11 balls to spare against their Division One opponents reaching 139-3 after restricting the Warriors to a below par total of 136-8.
JP King compiled a sturdy 50 from 41 balls for the Warriors but the linyathi opening pair of Sithembile Langa (3-22) and Jan Coetzer (3-25) were outstanding in their four overs, taking wickets every time the visitors threatened to establish a partnership.
Left-arm spinner Kgaudisa Molefe was again in miserly form, conceding just 22 in his four overs and contributing with the wicket of King via a run out.
Roux paced his innings to perfection, facing 49 balls with two fours and three sixes, with Niemand requiring just 32 balls for his 44, which included five fours and two sixes.
LIONS TAKE DOWN LIMPOPO IMPALAS
Elsewhere the DP World Lions romped to a straightforward, eight-wicket victory against the Wenbro Limpopo Impalas, who were restricted to just 119-6 at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
Eighteen-year-old left arm seamer JJ Basson claimed 2-13 in his four overs with 19-year-old offspinner Mo Manack sharing the new ball for the Lions and finishing with 2-23.
Proteas legspinner Nqaba Peter conceded just 21 from his four overs.
In-form Lions opener Zubayr Hamza remained in the runs with a run-a-ball 26 but Connor Esterhuizen made light work of the chase with a rampaging, unbeaten 74 from just 37 deliveries which included six fours and five, multi-directional sixes as the Lions charged to 120-2 in only 12.1 overs.
The Lions moved into a share of the log lead in Pool B with five wins from seven games and 25 points, alongside the Hollywoodbets Dolphins while the Warriors remain in third place with 22 points from four victories.
The linyathi are fifth with 14 points but Limpopo are pointless with seven losses from seven.