A half-century by Matthew Breetzke ensured the Dafabet Warriors continued to impress in the CSA T20 Challenge with a 31-run win over AET Tuskers at the Dafabet St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Friday.
The Proteas batter clubbed 7 sixes in a scintillating 41-ball 72 (1 four) as the hosts made it 9 wins out of 10 to extend their advantage over the DP World Lions at the summit of the table.
There were also wins for Momentum Multiply Titans and Auto Investment North West Dragons in the latest round of action with the competition now fast closing in on the business end of proceedings.
On Friday, though, it was the Breetzke show in the Eastern Cape after his performance at the top of the order blew away the Tuskers.
The home side batted first after losing the toss and racked up 174/5, with 21 runs apiece also coming through Jiveshan Pillay and Jordan Hermann.
The visitors could only manage 143/9 in their reply, which included a top-score of 29 from Cameron Delport. Nealan van Heerden was the pick of the Warriors’ bowlers, collecting 3/31 – his team winning comfortably in the end.
Meanwhile, in Centurion, Sibonelo Makhanya continued his recent good form with an unbeaten half century to help his side Titans cruise to a bonus-point win over Gbets Rocks.
The victory was set up by the bowlers, though, who help bowl out the away team for 122 after they won the toss and elected to field first.
Veteran all-rounder David Wiese led the way with miserly figures of 3-1-9-2, while there were also doubles by Lungi Ngidi (2/19) and Junior Dala (2/32).
Wicketkeeper Clyde Fortuin top-scored with 45 off 24 balls as everyone else struggled in his side at SuperSport Park.
Makhanya, aided by Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Dayyaan Galiem (both 29), then 50* off 25 balls (4 fours, 4 sixes) to help overhaul the target in just 13 overs.
Finally in Potchefstroom, Gideon Peters and Kerwin Mungroo were both outstanding with the ball in what turned out to be only a third win of the campaign for the Dragons over World Sports Betting Western Province at the JB Marks Oval.
The home side won by 11 runs thanks to Peters’ 3/23, with Mungroo also excelling with his economical 1/12 in 4 overs that restricted the Cape side to 144/6 chasing 156.
Batting first, NW reached 155/8 thanks to Raynard van Tonder (39*) and Rubin Hermann (30).
Eddie Moore fell three short of a 50 in the reply and Valentine Kitme struck 33, but it was not enough as the visitors ended short.