The Dafabet Warriors were crowned YesPlay Pro20 Cup champions, retaining their T20 crown with a dominant 36-run victory over the DP World Lions at YesPlay Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday evening.
A wonderful stand of 130 for the third wicket between JP King (73) and Matthew de Villiers (71 not out) enabled the Warriors to post a massive 219 for four in their 20 overs after Bjorn Fortuin had won the toss and sent the defending champions in to bat first.
In reply, veteran seamer Beuran Hendricks (4-0-31-3) ripped the heart out of the Lions' top order, with the Lions reaching 183 for seven, thanks mainly to a valiant unbeaten half-century from Mitchell van Buuren (72 not out).
The Inaugural YesPlay Pro20 Champions, The Dafabet Warriors!!! 🏆💛 What a moment for the team from Gqeberha as they claim the silverware following a thrilling Finals Day at YesPlay Newlands! 🤩🏟️ Congratulations to the champions! Enjoy the celebrations! 🙌 #Unbreakable #DCSA #YesPlayPro20Cup
— Domestic Cricket South Africa (@DomesticCSA) November 14, 2026
The Warriors started quickly, with Jordan Hermann (24) and Sibonelo Makhanya (17) helping their side to 48 inside three overs. The Lions thought they were back in the fight when Muhammad Manack (3-0-39-2) had Hermann caught by Fortuin in the covers, before Fortuin (4-0-36-1) bowled Makhanya off his pads.
King and De Villiers were brutal, needing just 79 balls for their stand. King struck five massive sixes and three boundaries from 47 balls while De Villiers struck eight boundaries and three sixes from 39 balls. Once Codi Yusuf (4-0-40-1) removed King, Patrick Kruger then launched into the attack, striking a four and two sixes to end unbeaten on 29 from only 11 deliveries.
The Warriors suffered a small setback at the start of the chase, when De Villiers damaged a finger when trying to take a ball behind the stumps from Hendricks. De Villiers had to leave the field and was replaced by Modiri Litheko, and for the Warriors faithful, it seemed a dream in the making.
Hendricks bowled back of a length and had Richard Seletswane (6), Fortuin (8) and Rassie van der Dussen (2) all caught behind by Litheko after all three batsmen top-edged deliveries that flew high into the cold night sky.
At 25 for three, the Lions faced a task as difficult as climbing Mount Everest in a pair of high heels. However, there was still hope in the Lions camp as Connor Esterhuizen (34) and Van Buuren set about going after the Warriors' attack.
The pair added 58 runs for the fourth wicket from 38 deliveries but then Andile Mokgokane (3-0-37-1) had Esterhuizen caught by Kruger at long-on. The loss of Esterhuizen brought Delano Potgieter to the crease and it seemed that he and Van Buuren could take the chase deep.
Potgieter struck one four and four sixes as he and Van Buuren added 55 runs for the fifth wicket from 25 balls, before being caught off the bowling of Senuran Muthusamy (4-0-41-1) for 30 from only 12 deliveries. Van Buuren, who struck eight fours and two sixes from 46 deliveries, tried valiantly to keep things going but lost partners regularly.
Manack (2) and Nqaba Peter (7) failed to assist Van Buuren but Gerald Coetzee (16 not out) did entertain the crowd with two boundaries and a six from seven balls – but it was all too late for the Lions.