David Wiese and Dayyaan Galiem shared six wickets before an astonishing unbeaten 90 by Rivaldo Moonsamy helped resuscitate the Momentum Multiply Titans in their pursuit of the CSA T20 Challenge play-offs with an 8-wicket win over AET Tuskers at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Sunday.
There were also handsome wins for top-four candidates DP World Lions and Hollywoodbets Dolphins, while Gbets Rocks inflicted a surprise defeat on leaders Dafabet Warriors in Paarl.
But arguably the performance of the day came on the Highveld where the defending champions chased down 142 in just 12.3 overs with right-handed opener Moonsamy in destructive form.
The 27-year-old thrashed five sixes and 11 fours in an incredible 41-ball spectacle, almost single-handedly taking side to a bonus point win. This after the Titans’ bowlers dismissed their KwaZulu-Natal opponents, who were asked to bat first, for 141 in 19.4 overs.
Veteran Wiese was the pick of the bowlers with 3-21, including a maiden, with Galiem bagging 3/24. In fact, all the bowlers shone – Lungi Ngidi took 2-12 in 3 overs and Corbin Bosch nabbed 2/20 – to seal a result that moved the home side above World Sports Betting Western Province in fourth place.
The Cape side again missed the chance to move clear of 2023 winners, suffering a heavy 8-wicket defeat to the Dolphins, who won with a bonus point in Cape Town.
Province batted first after winning the toss but were flattened for 96. Andile Simelane (3-12) and Prenelan Subrayen (3-18) proved key for the Durban side with the ball.
The visitors needed only 11.1 overs to then chase down that target with Khayelihle Zondo (35), Grant Roelofsen (21), Jon-Jon Smuts (16*) and Marques Ackerman (17*) all among the runs.
Another side that won big was the second-placed Lions after they flattened the Auto Investment North West Dragons by 10 wickets at DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
After winning the toss and batting, the Potchefstroom-based team could only post an underwhelming 85 all out.
Every bowler shone for the home side, although rookie Nqaba Peter continued to see his stock rise with 3-22, the best of the figures. There were also doubles for Wiaan Mulder (2/9) and Lutho Sipamla (2/18).
Zubayr Hamza and Connor Esterhuizen both struck 28-ball unbeaten 41s to take their side past the target with a whopping 64 balls to spare.
Finally in Paarl, Rocks bowled first after winning the toss and restricted the Warriors to 127 for eight with Matthew Breetzke (48) top-scoring at Eurolux Boland Park.
Siyabonga Mahima and Christiaan Jonker collected 2-21 apiece. Then with the bat, Keegan Petersen hit an innings-high 33, supported well by Aviwe Mgijima (29) and Shaun von Berg (29) enabling the hosts to inflict only a second loss of the season on the runaway leaders as they won with three overs to spare.
WOMEN'S DOMESTIC LEAGUE
In the CSA Professional Women’s Domestic League, DP World Lions Women secured another runner-up spot with a five-wicket victory against Hollywoodbets Dolphins at the DP World Wanderers.
The Lions finished as runners-up in both the CSA Women’s One-Day Cup and T20 Challenge competitions as the inaugural CSA Professional Women’s Domestic League concluded on Sunday.
Alexandra Candler continued his batting form with an unbeaten 62* as Dolphins were restricted to 121 for six in their 20 overs.
Lions’ Madison Landsman and Kgomotso Rapoo also brought their One-Day Cup final round form with two wickets apiece.
Kirstie Thomson (42), Sunette Viljoen-Louw (32) and Diara Ramlakan (24) provided a steady chase as Lions reached the target with three balls to spare, ending the innings on 122 for five.
At the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn, hosts, Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers needed a win and for Lions to lose up north to finish as CSA Women’s T20 Challenge runners-up.
Their visitors, Recon Tactical Free State had other plans, opting to bat first to set the target to 144 runs.
Yolandi Potgieter led the charge with 71 off 51 to guide Free State to an innings score 143 for six.
Michaela Andrews was the chief wicket-taker, with a total of four wickets; recording 2-14 in four overs and executing two run-outs.
The Free State bowlers were clinical in their defence, despite valiant effort from Tabitha le Grange (48) and Andrews (37), Badgers were restricted to 116 for four in 20 overs, and the Bloemfontein-based side won by 27 runs.