The Northerns Titans boosted their T20 Challenge semi-final hopes with an eight-wicket win over the KZN Inland Tuskers in Centurion on Sunday.
There were also impressive wins for playoff candidates the Central Gauteng Lions and KZN Dolphins, while the Boland Rocks inflicted a surprise defeat on the log-leading EP Warriors in Paarl.
But the performance of the day came on the Highveld where the defending champions chased down 142 in just 12.3 overs with right-handed opener Rivaldo Moonsamy in destructive form.
The 27-year-old smashed five sixes and 11 fours in an incredible 41-ball spectacle, almost single-handedly taking his side to a bonus-point win.
This after the Titans’ bowlers dismissed their opponents, who were asked to bat first, for 141 in 19.4 overs.
Veteran David Wiese was the pick of the bowlers with 3-21, including a maiden, with Dayyaan Galiem bagging 3-24.
In fact, all the bowlers shone – Lungi Ngidi took 2-12 in three overs and Corbin Bosch 2-20 in three overs – to seal a result that moved the home side above Western Province into fourth place.
WP suffered a heavy eight-wicket defeat to the Dolphins in Cape Town.
Province batted first after winning the toss but were flattened for 96. Andile Simelane (3-12) and Prenelan Subrayen (3-18) proved key for the visitors with the ball.
The Dolphins needed only 11.1 overs to then chase down that target with Khayelihle Zondo (35), Grant Roelofsen (21), Jon-Jon Smuts (16*) and Marques Ackerman (17*) all amongst the runs.
Another side that won big was the second-placed Lions, who thrashed the North West Dragons by 10 wickets at the Wanderers.
After winning the toss and batting, the Potchefstroom-based team could only post an underwhelming 85 all out.
Every bowler shone for the hosts, although rookie Nqaba Peter continued to see his stock rise with 3-22, the best of the figures. There were also doubles for Wiaan Mulder (2-9) and Lutho Sipamla (2-18).
Zubayr Hamza and Connor Esterhuizen both struck 28-ball unbeaten 41s to take their side past the target with a whopping 64 balls to spare.
In Paarl, the Rocks bowled first after winning the toss and restricted the Warriors to 127-8.
Matthew Breetzke top-scored with 48, while Siyabonga Mahima and Christiaan Jonker collected 2-21 apiece.
Then with the bat, Keegan Petersen hit an innings-high 33, supported well by Aviwe Mgijima (29) and Shaun von Berg (29), enabling the hosts to inflict only a second loss of the season on the runaway leaders as they won with three overs to spare.
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
