A day-four blitz from the Lions saw them defeat the Warriors by 148 runs to win their second match of the Sunfoil Series campaign.
The match went into its final day at the Wanderers delicately balanced, with the Lions holding a 214-run lead on 262-5, this after the Warriors managed 356 in response to the hosts’ 308.
Geoffrey Toyana’s charges wasted little time in putting runs on the board to ensure that a result would be on the cards. All-round sensation Wiaan Mulder scored a brisk 36 off 52 balls, while Hardus Viljoen blasted 25 off 10 deliveries to allow their side to declare on 335-8 in the morning session, offering the Warriors 288 for victory.
Viljoen, who played one Test against England in January, was in devastating form, tearing through the top order to leave the visitors reeling on 47-4 after just 10 overs. Dwaine Pretorius also chipped in with a wicket, adding to the 6-81 and 97 he’d already achieved in the match.
Resistance was offered by Simon Harmer, of which 40 of his 42 runs were scored in boundaries, but he ran out of partners as Ayavula Myoli (2-28) and Mulder (2-15) chipped in with two wickets apiece to clean them up for 139. Viljoen sealed his five-wicket haul to secure the 149-run win.
Rain and then bad light dominated proceedings at Kingsmead throughout the match, as the Dolphins and the Knights had to settle for the draw.
There was no play whatsoever on day two as the hosts laboured to 311 all out, before Imran Tahir took four wickets as the Knights were bowled for 211. The draw was always going to be the outcome going into the final day as bonus points provided the only incentive for the sides. The Dolphins got to 12-1 before enough was enough.
The defending champions the Titans meanwhile cleaned up the struggling Cobras inside three days on Saturday, as spinner Shaun von Berg took 10 wickets to inspire his side to a massive innings and 50-run victory.
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/Gallo Images
