The Lions won their second consecutive T20 Challenge title with a 4-wicket win over the Dolphins at Kingsmead.

It was a low scoring game between the unbeaten Dolphins and the defending champions the Lions.

It was an excellent bowling display that helped the Lions dominate upfront and Kagiso Rabada who was the pick of the bowlers with 3-12, his dismissal of David Miller (2), in particular, a major decider in the contest.

Rabada bowled with menace and pace, troubling the Dolphins throughout the match, and with the help from the tournament’s top wicket-taker, Sisanda Magala (2-19), helped reduce the hosts to 107/7.

Magala finished with 13 wickets, an average of 12.84 and an economy rate of 7.64.

The Dolphins found some fight back through middle-order cameos from Robbie Frylinck (30 off 26), Khaya Zondo (24 off 27) and Mangaliso Mosehle (18 off 25) but it wasn’t enough to post a competitive total.

The Lions made the chase more difficult than it needed to be, the Dolphins bowling with aggression and accuracy throughout their defence.

Ottniel Baartman was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts with 2-20.

Reeza Hendricks managed to show a tinge of the form he showed throughout the tournament with an exciting 39 off 40 balls (two fours and two sixes), but it was Wiaan Mulder who kept the pressure on the Dolphins with a couple of impressive boundaries for his 24 off 23 balls (one four and one six).

Bjorn Fortuin, who took a wicket in the opening over of the game, backed this up by sealing the win with a four, to post a winning total of 108/6 with an over remaining.

This was the Lions’ second consecutive T20 Challenge win.

Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix