A Chevrolet Warriors blitskrieg saw them cruise to a two wicket victory over the Bizhub Highveld Lions in their final Momentum One Day Cup match of the season at Buffalo Park yesterday.
A couple of late wickets made the victory more uncomfortable than it should have been, but captain Colin Ingram (90 not out) kept a cool head to drive the second ball of the 40th over through the covers for four.
By chasing down the victory target of 286 within 40 overs the Warriors claimed a winning bonus point from the game and pulled level on 21 points with the Unlimited Titans on the one day log.
However, the Warriors fell agonisingly short of qualifying for the play-offs via net run rate after the Titans managed to score enough runs to stay ahead of the Warriors’ run rate in their loss against the Sunfoil Dolphins in Durban.
It will thus be a bitter sweet victory for the team, however they will be absolutely elated with a turn around in form since interim coach Malibongwe Maketa took over in December.
“The last few weeks have been fantastic,” said Ingram.
The Warriors began the second half of their one day season sitting stone last on the table with just one win from five matches.
They then claimed four wins, one with a bonus point, and lost just one game to claw their way up to fourth on the log and get within inches of reaching the play-offs.
The Warriors’ chase began with the in-form opening pair of Jon Jon Smuts and Michael Price tearing into the Lions bowlers.
They brought up their half century stand off 37 balls, before Smuts reached his 50 off 31 deliveries.
The century partnership then came up in the 15th over and Price followed up by reaching his 50 off 54 balls.
Eddie Leie was a thorn in the side of the Warriors throughout their innings, picking up 4/56 in his 10 overs and he almost derailed the Warriors effort single-handedly as they reached 289/8.
In the morning session the Lions won the toss and elected to bat and made 285/4.
Neil McKenzie and Rassie van der Dussen set about a superb 209 run partnership that put the Lions in charge.
McKenzie was finally dismissed for 112 in the 47th over and Chris Morris (3) followed.
Warriors overhaul Lions
A couple of late wickets made the victory more uncomfortable than it should have been, but captain Colin Ingram (90 not out) kept a cool head to drive the second ball of the 40th over through the covers for four.
By chasing down the victory target of 286 within 40 overs the Warriors claimed a winning bonus point from the game and pulled level on 21 points with the Unlimited Titans on the one day log.
However, the Warriors fell agonisingly short of qualifying for the play-offs via net run rate after the Titans managed to score enough runs to stay ahead of the Warriors’ run rate in their loss against the Sunfoil Dolphins in Durban.
It will thus be a bitter sweet victory for the team, however they will be absolutely elated with a turn around in form since interim coach Malibongwe Maketa took over in December.
“The last few weeks have been fantastic,” said Ingram.
The Warriors began the second half of their one day season sitting stone last on the table with just one win from five matches.
They then claimed four wins, one with a bonus point, and lost just one game to claw their way up to fourth on the log and get within inches of reaching the play-offs.
The Warriors’ chase began with the in-form opening pair of Jon Jon Smuts and Michael Price tearing into the Lions bowlers.
They brought up their half century stand off 37 balls, before Smuts reached his 50 off 31 deliveries.
The century partnership then came up in the 15th over and Price followed up by reaching his 50 off 54 balls.
Eddie Leie was a thorn in the side of the Warriors throughout their innings, picking up 4/56 in his 10 overs and he almost derailed the Warriors effort single-handedly as they reached 289/8.
In the morning session the Lions won the toss and elected to bat and made 285/4.
Neil McKenzie and Rassie van der Dussen set about a superb 209 run partnership that put the Lions in charge.
McKenzie was finally dismissed for 112 in the 47th over and Chris Morris (3) followed.
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