• Warriors openers set up massive T20 Knock Out win

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    The Warriors thrashed the Limpopo Impalas by a mammoth 120 runs in their Pool D clash in Kimberley on Tuesday.

    Warriors openers Wihan Lubbe and Matthew Breetzke combined for a massive 129-run partnership in batting-friendly conditions.

    Lubbe dispatched six maximums, including three boundaries, on his way to a 33-ball knock of 65, while Breetzke was motoring at a similar rate to bring up his second half-century of the tournament, finishing on 59 off 33 balls (11 fours).

    Despite Ntokozo Mahlaba (1-26) and Juandre Scheepers (2-40) providing respite for Limpopo by removing the two in-form batters, Jon Jon Smuts and Diego Rosier (31) came to the crease and upped the tempo.

    The pair combined for a rapid 48-run stand off just 24 balls to take the Eastern Cape side to 186-3 in the 16th over, with Smuts going one step further than his 47 against the Rocks on Monday to bring up his 18th fifty in T20 cricket.

    Smuts was finally dismissed for 52 off 26 balls (four fours, four sixes) as he helped propel his side to a daunting 243-6 after 20 overs.

    Malcolm Nofal was the most impressive bowler for the Impalas with figures of 2-34.

    With an uphill battle facing the Impalas batting lineup, the Warriors maintained their stronghold in the game with a solid bowling performance in the PowerPlay.

    The Gqeberha-based team restricted the Impalas to 44-1 after six overs, with Nofal (38) leading the contribution with the willow, before the wickets began to tumble and the runs became harder to come by.

    Mahlaba (19) showed some resilience, coming in at No 8, but the Warriors victory shortly became a formality, as leg-spinner Kyle Jacobs picked up two wickets for 14 runs in his spell as the Impalas chase whittled down, ending on 123-9 after their 20 overs.

    To add to his impressive batting display, Smuts also contributed handy figures of 2-24 with his slow left-arm othordox bowling.

    The Warriors next face the Eastern Cape Iinyathi on Wednesday, while the Impalas wrap up their tournament in an encounter with the Rocks.

    Photo: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix

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    Simon Borchardt