Warriors dismantle Tuskers in Gqeberha

Career-best figures from Nealan van Heerden and an unbeaten half-century from JP King helped the Dafabet Warriors to a convincing eight-wicket CSA One-Day Cup victory over the AET Tuskers at Dafabet St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Sunday.

Van Heerden, who had a previous best of 4-42, bagged 5-37 in eight overs to help the Warriors skittle the Tuskers for just 130 in 34.2 overs after Matthew Breetzke had won the toss and asked Michael Erlank’s men to bat first in bowler-friendly conditions.

In reply, King smashed two boundaries and five maximums on his way to an unbeaten 68 from just 64 balls as the Warriors finished off the game in just 23 overs, finishing on 133 for two to earn a well-deserved bonus-point win that moves them to the top of the One-Day Cup log (at the time of writing).

Beyers Swanepoel had started the rot, claiming 3-18 in his eight overs as he dismissed Cameron Delport (4), brilliantly caught by a diving Patrick Kruger at second slip, Kagiso Rapulana (9) and trapping the in-form Tian Koekemoer in front for just four.

Four of Van Heerden’s wickets were clean-bowled, with Dilivio Ridgaard (8), Malcolm Nofal (0), Kyle Nipper (28) and Smangaliso Nhlebela (2) all having their timbers flattened. Van Heerden also produced a beautiful away-swinger to have Keith Dudgeon caught behind by Sinethemba Qeshile for a first-ball duck.

Alfred Mathoa (5.2-0-22-2) also chipped in with two scalps, clean-bowling Erlank for 21 and finishing off the innings, having top-scorer Alindile Mhletywa caught at mid-off for 39 from 49 balls, which included five boundaries and a six.

In reply, King and Jordan Hermann (39) laid the foundation for the easy chase with an opening stand of 72 from 92 deliveries. The Tuskers were not helped in any measure by the departure of the tournament's leading wicket-taker, Mbulelo Budaza, who could only bowl 2.1 overs before leaving the field with an injury.

The pair raised their 50-run stand off 52 balls before Erlank introduced his spinners into the attack. Nipper (3-0-20-1) made the breakthrough, having Hermann caught at short fine-leg by Erlank, but it was a soft dismissal as Nipper had dragged down his delivery on the legside.

Despite the loss of Hermann’s wicket, King and Qehsile increased the tempo, adding 49 runs for the second wicket from only 45 balls as King latched onto any poor deliveries. Koekemoer, who finished up Budaza’s third over, conceded 28 runs in his 2.5 overs. Dudgeon produced some good swing but went wicketless in his six overs, conceding 24 runs.

Qeshile struck just one boundary in his 26-ball stay before being caught at mid-on by Dudgeon off the bowling of Nhlebela (4-1-18-1) with only 10 runs needed for victory.

King though, looked to end the match as quickly as possible, smashing Nofal for 11 runs in what turned out to be the final over of the match, which included a massive six over mid-wicket.

The Tuskers remain on five points from their five matches while the Warriors move top of the log on 18 points, two ahead of Six Gun Grill Western Province, who are facing off against the Hollywoodbets Dolphins in Durban.

DAFABET WARRIORS: Matthew Breetzke (c), Sinethemba Qeshile (wk), Andile Mokgakane, JP King, Jordan Hermann, Tristan Stubbs, Beyers Swanepoel, Renaldo Meyer, Patrick Kruger, Nealan van Heerden, Alfred Mothoa

AET TUSKERS: Dilivio Ridgaard (wk), Cameron Delport, Kagiso Rapulana, Tian Koekemoer, Michael Erlank (c), Malcolm Nofal, Kyle Nipper, Alindile Mhletywa, Keith Dudgeon, Smangaliso Nhlebela, Mbulelo Budaza