Alviro Petersen slammed his fifth hundred of this Momentum One-Day Cup campaign to set up the Lions’ eight-run win over the Dolphins in Potchefstroom on Friday.
And while he was the backbone of an innings that offered a target of 278 to win, Matt McGillivray stepped up to cut down the Dolphins’ fightback, taking 4-49 and helping to restrict the visitors (who unwisely sent the Lions in to bat) to 268-7.
Petersen has now got 594 runs from six innings, bringing up his 12th List A century.
The Dolphins did well to rein in the Lions in the early overs, holding them to 87-2 in the 22nd over. But a solid partnership of 116 at just over 6.5 an over between Temba Bavuma and Petersen put the Lions on the front foot going into the 40th over. Bavuma worked hard for his 42, scoring just three fours among the 56 balls he faced.
But with that anchor at one end, Petersen had some freedom to cut loose. When Bavuma went, the innings stalled a bit, for Petersen followed just 16 runs later. He had faced 92 balls, scoring seven fours and three sixes.
Then the middle order went hard at the Dolphins’ bowlers, adding 57 in eight overs.
The Dolphins struggled to get going, losing three wicket for 56 runs in 17 overs. Kyle Nipper (55) and Ryan McLaren (62) did their best to inject some momentum, but their stand of 117 did not break 5.5 an over, leaving the Dolphins floundering. Both fell to McGillivray, and with the score on 180-5, the Dolphins tail was left with too much to do.
The Lions have now moved up to second place on the log,trailing the Cobras by five points after seven matches.
