Cricket South Africa’s premier T20 competition, the CSA T20 Challenge has reached its judgment day and the two teams who have made it big are Warriors and the Highveld Lions. Both these teams finished at the top two spots in the points table in the league stage and are deservingly the finalists.
Warriors managed 3 wins in the league stage and were involved in four no-result games. Their wins in this season came against Cape Cobras by 7 wickets, against this same Highveld Lions by 9 wickets and against Knights by 4 wickets. In the semi-finals, they tamed Cape Cobras by 5 wickets courtesy an imperial batting effort from Mathew Breetzke who scored a brisk 60 from just 38 deliveries which included 3 boundaries and 4 sixes. His valiant effort helped Warriors post a formidable 172 on the board which was later defended by their bowlers.
Highveld Lions journey this season has been terrific. They finished atop in the points table with 4 wins from 9 games and lost only two. Their losses came against Dolphins by 7 wickets and against Cape Cobras again by 7 wickets. Although they lost to the Warriors by 9 wickets in one league stage game but will not repeat the same mistake especially at this stage of the tournament.
Highveld Lions vs Warriors, Final Match
The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
06:00 PM IST
Matches Played 26
Lions Win 08
Warriors Win 16
Tie 01
No Result 01
Highveld Lions:
(**As per their last match)
Temba Bavuma(c), Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Wiaan Mulder, Delano Potgieter, Wihan Lubbe, Nono Pongolo, Migael Pretorius, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Aaron Phangiso, Lizaad Williams, Malusi Siboto
Warriors:
JJ Smuts(c), Gihahn Cloete, M Breetzke, Sinethemba Qeshile, Lesiba Ngoepe, Marco Marais, Onke Nyaku, J de Klerk, Andrew Birch, Lutho Sipamla, Sisanda Magala, Thomas Kaber, Sithembile Langa.
Warriors: JJ Smuts, Jade de Klerk, Gihahn Cloete, Lesiba Ngoepe, Lutho Sipamla, Onke Nyaku, Marco Marais, Sinethemba Qeshile, Sisanda Magala, Matthew Breetzke, Andrew Birch
Highveld Lions: Temba Bavuma, Wiaan Mulder, Lizaad Williams, Migael Pretorius, Reeza Hendricks, Dwaine Pretorius, Nono Pongolo, Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Bjorn Fortuin, Aaron Phangiso