Another sensational bowling display by Siya Simetu and Matthew Breetzke’s half-century helped the EP Warriors make it five wins from five in the T20 Challenge with a clinical eight-wicket victory over Western Province in Gqeberha on Thursday.
Slow left-armer Simetu has been one of the players of the tournament to date, with not just his wickets, but his economy rate, too. His 2-15 in four overs at St George’s Park helped restrict WP to 149-7 after they won the toss and batted.
George Linde top-scored for Province with 46 off 38 balls after they fell into early trouble, which was brought upon by the home bowlers, and in particular Patrick Kruger (2-25).
Simetu, who is now the competition’s leading wicket-taker with 11 at an economy rate of 4.84, did the business at the back end of the innings.
It was then over to the batsmen with Breetzke (53* off 42 balls; four fours, one six) leading the way by sharing in two 50-plus partnerships.
First he put on 65 with Andile Mogakane (48 off 34 balls) for the second wicket, before adding an unbroken 62 with Jordan Hermann (31* off 23) – the Warriors winning with 14 balls to spare.
In Thursday’s other game, Rubin Hermann and Migael Pretorius played starring roles to hand the North West Dragons their second win of the season against the winless Boland Rocks in Potchefstroom.
The hosts won by seven wickets, thanks in the main to Hermann, who thrashed an unbeaten 96 off 56 balls (nine fours, five sixes).
However, Migael Pretorius also played a stellar role by claiming 4-14 in four overs to restrict the visitors to 146-6 after they had lost the toss and were asked to bat first at JB Marks Oval.
Ferisco Adams top-scored with an unbeaten 50 off 39 balls (three fours and two sixes). But the home side made light work of the chase thanks to Hermann and won comfortably with 3.1 overs to spare.
HIGHLIGHTS: Titans vs Dolphins
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
