Gqeberha hosted the top of the table clash between the number 1 team in the CSA T20 Challenge Dafabet Warriors and DP World Lions.
The homeside won the toss and decided to bowl first. The Johannesburg based side had a good opening partnership between the Proteas duo of Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks. The two put on 58 runs for the first wicket partnership.
It took Siya Simetu to find the breakthrough for the Warriors in the 7th over. The next wicket would come in the 12th over courtesy of Alfred Mothoa. Rassie van der Dussen fell on 98 runs, and the Lions would lose 2 more wickets for just 3 runs.
The Warriors had also gotten the important wicket of Ryan, who was dismissed for a match winning score of 52 from 38 balls.
The Lions would go on and post a competitive 158/9 in their 20 overs. Nealan van Heerden led the charge for the Warriors with 4 for 23 in his 4 overs.
The table toppers started their batting innings like a house on fire with captain Matthew Breetzke, but that fire quickly fizzled out. Lutho Sipamla got the wicket of Matthew (16) in the third over. By the end of the powerplay, the Warriors had lost 4 wickets, and Wiaan Mulder had two of them.
The Warriors never recovered from that early onslaught from the Lions bowlers. Lions would leave Gqeberha with not only a bonus point but also took the number one spot in the CSA T20 Challenge league table. The Warriors were dismissed for 109 and fell to the Lions by 43 runs.
Both teams have two more matches left before the semi-finals, and they have both qualified for the semis.
AET Tuskers played their home match away in Paarl against Gbets Paarl Rocks. This was the bottom of the table clash.
The Tuskers were inserted to bat first, and it did not go well for the Maritzburg based side. The first 3 wickets went for 17 runs before there was a bit of resistance from Ntando Zuma (21), Kyle Nipper (36), and skipper Michael Erlank (32).
The resistance did not do much in terms of posting a respectable score as the Tuskers scored 119/9 in their 20 overs. The Rocks spinners were on song as they bowled a combined 16 overs in the match. Peak of the bowlers were Siyabonga Mahima for his 3 for 17 and Imran Manack for his 2 for 20.
The Rocks also played the Titans all-rounder Ayabulela Gqamane for the first time. They showed their intentions to hopefully make a push for the semis, no matter how unlikely that goal may be.
In reply, the Rocks did not start well as Mbulelo Budaza got both wickets of the openers, including the captain Clyde Fortuin (7). The experience of Shaun von Berg (37*) and Keegan Petersen (57) steered the ship with a 89 run partnership for the third wicket.
Keegan 57 was his first half a century this year in all cricket formats. His knock was enough to ensure that the Rocks moved to number 6 and out of the bottom 2 spot for the first team in the CSA T20 Challenge. After winning the match by 7 wickets over the Tuskers. The Tuskers remain rooted at the bottom and are destined to be relegated after 1 season in the top flight.
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