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The Lions skipper, Temba Bavuma says that they did not want to lose more wickets towards the end and they have areas that they can focus on. Feels happy that they were able to take wickets and apply the pressure on the Warriors. Feels that on a surface like this, you cannot hit through the line, so spin will come into play and adds that they need to make sure that they dispatch the loose balls.
Rassie van der Dussen has been named the Batsman of the Match. He starts by saying that they lost early wickets and there was some pressure but you could get good value for shots against the new ball. Further adds that one good partnership was all that they needed. Feels that the wind was also helping to hit it one way and if it is in your area, you need to go for the shot.
Kagiso Rabada has been named the Bowler of the Match. He says that the wicket was decent and there was some bounce but at the same time, you had to be disciplined with your bowling. Shares that he is taking it game by game and that their bodies are used to playing large volumes of cricket.
Earlier in the match, Lions bowled brilliantly to counter the aggressive batting style adopted by the Warriors. The regular fall of wickets didn't allow the Warriors a big finish and they ended up with a below-par total. Kagiso Rabada and Sisanda Magala hunted down 7 wickets together and were the best bowlers for the Lions.
Two wickets in the 17th over bowled by Ayabulela Gqamane gave a sniff to the Warriors but Bjorn Fortuin collected a couple of boundaries from the subsequent over to ease the nerves in his camp. Towards the end, 3 runs were needed off the final over and Anrich Nortje bowled a dot ball first up. We all thought that Anrich will use all his experience and pace to rattle the lower order but the misfield by the mid off fielder robbed us of a nerve-wracking finish. Eventually, the team which was supposed to win, won and collected four points from the contest.
A victory for Highveld Lions but it was too close for comfort for them. They nearly made a mountain out of a molehill in this run chase. In pursuit, the Lions lost their openers cheaply but then the partnership between Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen put them back on track. The former fell but the latter continued to get a fine half century and his stand with Delano Potgieter nearly put the chase to bed. However, there were a few hiccups as the target appeared close as Rassie and Delano departed in the same over.
HIGHVELD LIONS
159/6 (19.2)
64 (41)
40 (35)
3/20 (3)
1/31 (3)
Over 20
0
4
Sisanda Magala*
6 (5)
Dwaine Pretorius
3 (4)
Anrich Nortje
1/33 (3.2)
HL
159/6
4
19.2
Anrich Nortje to Sisanda Magala ,MISFIELD AND FOUR! There it is! Length ball around the off pole, Magala whacks this one towards the mid off region and the fielder dived to his right but he failed to collect it cleanly and the ball went on to find the ropes downtown, after taking the deflection. HIGHVELD LIONS WIN BY 4 WICKETS!
0
19.1
Anrich Nortje to Sisanda Magala ,A dot to start. Yorker on middle, jammed out towards the mid on fielder by Sisanda Magala. 3 more needed off 5 balls.
Over 19
1
1
0
1
0
1
Sisanda Magala*
2 (3)
Dwaine Pretorius
3 (4)
Marco Jansen
0/17 (3)
HL
155/6
1
18.6
Marco Jansen to Sisanda Magala ,An easy run to end. Fuller, on middle, worked through mid on for a single. Just 3 more needed.
0
18.5
Marco Jansen to Sisanda Magala ,Outside off, length, Sisanda Magala looks to guide this one to the off side but he misses.
1
18.4
Marco Jansen to Dwaine Pretorius ,IN THE AIR...DROPPED! A fuller ball outside off, Dwaine Pretorius gets low and slices this one towards the backward point fielder, who got his hands on this but the ball popped out. One run.
0
18.3
Marco Jansen to Dwaine Pretorius ,Good length and on middle, flicked to the leg side. No runs on this occasion.
1
18.2
Marco Jansen to Sisanda Magala ,Full and on leg, flicked to square leg for one more run. A loud appeal from Jansen for lbw but the umpire is unmoved as there was bat on this one.
1
18.1
Marco Jansen to Dwaine Pretorius ,A slower full toss on middle, worked through mid on for an easy single.
Sisanda Magala ambles out to the centre.
Over 18
1
1
0
4
4
W
Bjorn Fortuin*
9 (5)
Dwaine Pretorius
1 (1)
Anrich Nortje
1/29 (3)
HL
151/6