Beyers Swanepoel produced scarcely believable bowling figures to keep the EP Warriors in One-Day Cup semi-final contention with a 19-run win over Western Province in Gqeberha on Wednesday.
There was also a second successive century for Rivaldo Moonsamy as the Northerns Titans kept their playoffs hopes alive with another big win, this time over the North West Dragons, while Boland became the first team through to the last four when their match against the Central Gauteng Lions in Johannesburg was cut short by rain.
The big performances of the evening were delivered by Swanepoel and Moonsamy, with the former registering bowling figures of 9-4-9-4 against the defending champions.
Batting first after winning the toss at St George’s Park, the Warriors were restricted to 223-9 thanks to four wickets from Onke Nyaku (4-34).
Jordan Hermann top-scored for the hosts with 57 off 78 balls (six fours, two sixes) with 40s coming from Matthew Breetzke (45) and Senuran Muthusamy (47) – the batsmen struggling to find any real rhythm.
Province lost three early wickets to the exceptional Swanepoel in their reply to slip to 24-3.
But the chase was resurrected by Edward Moore (88* off 123 balls; 10 fours) and Kyle Verreynne (59 off 84 balls; six fours). The pair put on 107 together for the fourth wicket, but once the stand was broken, WP faltered and were eventually dismissed for 204 in 47.4 overs.
In Potchefstroom, Moonsamy struck five sixes and 10 fours in his 102 off 89 balls to help the Titans post another daunting total. After their spectacular 440-5 in 43 overs in their previous game, they amassed 376-6 this time.
Dewald Brevis (57 off 32 balls; three fours, five sixes), Sibonelo Makhanya (63* off 60 balls; three fours, three sixes) and Andile Phehlukwayo (52 off 32 balls; three fours, four sixes) also played telling roles in what turned out to be a one-sided 133-run win.
In reply, the hosts managed 243 all out – Janneman Malan top-scoring with 92* off 97 balls (eight fours, one six) and Rubin Hermann striking a breezy 63 off 49 balls (three fours, three sixes).
Neil Brand was the most successful bowler with 3-56.
Wednesday’s other match between Boland and the Lions lasted only 31.5 overs as rain had the final say.
Akhona Mnyaka took 2-16 as the hosts reached 126-5, with Wandile Makwetu hitting 47.
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
