Lutho Sipamla put on a wonderful display with the ball to hand the DP World Lions a 40-run victory over World Sports Betting Western Province in the opening match of the CSA One-Day Cup at World Sports Betting Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday evening.
Chasing 260 for victory, Sipamla grabbed 4-43 to dismiss the home side for 219 with 19 balls remaining in reply to the Lions’ 259 for seven after Bjorn Fortuin had won the toss and elected to bat first.
MATCH RESULT🟡
— DP World Lions (@LionsCricketSA) February 15, 2025
A clinical performance against the defending champions on the road to start our ODC campaign!🏏🥳
🦁DP World Lions win by 40 runs at Newlands.#LionsCricket #ThePrideOfJozi #SpiritOfChampions #OneDayCup #WozaNawe #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/jOqkisPGgH
Sipamla was instrumental in removing the two set batsmen, Eddie Moore (66) and George Linde (55), who added 90 for the fifth wicket in 112 balls, and then dismissing Kyle Simmonds (9) and Dane Paterson (0) to end with 9-1-43-4.
Province lost opener Daniel Smith (3) early, top-edging a pull-shot from Codie Yusuf (9-0-31-1) to Tshepo Moreki at mid-off.
Yaseen Vallie was then trapped in front by Fortuin (10-0-40-2) before Valentine Kitime (27) was run out at the non-strikers end by Zubayr Hamza.
Jonathan Bird struck one glorious four through extra-cover off Fortuin before being stumped two balls later with some quick hands from Wandile Makwetu.
Linde then joined Moore at the crease and the pair rebuilt the chase with a fine stand.
Moore, who struggled throughout his innings, struck three fours and two sixes from 95 deliveries while Linde was more aggressive, striking six boundaries in his 58-ball knock.
Enter Sipamla who first had Linde brilliantly caught by Makwetu low-down to his left and then removed Moore, caught by Fortuin, leaping at mid-off.
Once Sipamla had seen the back of Simmonds and Paterson, it was left up to Moreki (7.5-0-40-2) to wrap up the tail.
Moreki struck twice in his eighth over, having Onke Nyaku (25) caught by Connor Esterhuizen at deep mid-wicket and then clean-bowling Mthiwekhaya Nabe for just two.
HAMZA, VAN BUUREN GUIDE LIONS TO PAR SCORE
Earlier, a half-century from Hamza and a well-played 48 from Mitchell van Buuren helped the Lions to a par-score of 259-7.
Hamza struck three boundaries and a six from 79 balls before being caught by Moore from the bowling of Paterson (10-1-44-2).
Van Buuren, who struck four boundaries, faced 58 deliveries while sharing in a crucial 104-run stand for the fourth wicket with Hamza from just 121 deliveries.
Van Buuren was disappointed at not reaching fifty, and stood forlornly after being given out leg before from the bowling of Simmonds (10-0-40-3).
Paterson had made the early breakthrough for the home side, having Makwetu caught behind by Smith from a top-edge.
Joshua Richards (29) and Reeza Hendricks (32) added 51 for the second wicket before the introduction of Simmonds.
The left-arm spinner clean-bowled Richards and then had Hendricks caught behind by Smith.
Hamza and Van Buuren then took control of the innings with their excellent century stand.
Simmonds returned to the attack to remove Van Buuren before Nabe (8-0-56-1) had Delano Potgieter caught by Linde in the deep for just 17.
Esterhuizen struck two fours and a six from 46 balls before being caught by Nyaku from the bowling of Wesley Bedja (8-0-57-1).
Yusuf struck one lusty four and a six to end unbeaten on 18 from eight balls to help push the Lions above the 250-run mark.
Province host the North West Dragons at Newlands on Wednesday while the Lions travel across the Juskei river to face-off against the Momentum Multiply Titans next Friday.