The Highveld Lions needed just four overs and two balls after tea to wrap up an exciting 37 run Supersport Series victory over the Warriors at the Wanderers on Sunday afternoon.
It was a match which either side could have won, with fortunes swinging like a metronome throughout the day.
Needing 251 for victory after dismissing the Lions for 311 in their second innings, the Warriors lost their first wicket when Andre Nel - who moved south across the Jukskei at the start of the season - had Johan Botha caught by Cliffie Deacon for two, with the score on 16.
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Michael Smith and Zander de Bruyn put on 54 runs for the second wicket, and the Warriors appeared to be back on top, until Kruger struck with successive balls to dismiss De Bruyn (30) and Arno Jacobs (0), and fortune swung back towards the Lions.
Deacon claimed the first of his three wickets when Ashwell Prince, stretching for the ball, edged it to Werner Coetsee at third slip for nine, but Smith and his captain Davy Jacobs steadied the ship with a 48-run partnership. Just when it appeared that these two would take the game away from the Lions, they lost their wickets in successive overs, and the Lions were back on top. Smith, who appeared to have taken on the role of anchorman, was caught at third slip by Coetsee off Craig Alexander. He had been at the crease for 163 minutes and faced 123 balls for his 39 runs.
Jacobs went seven balls later, caught by wicketkeeper Matthew Harris off Andre Nel for 30 off 31 deliveries.
With two new batsmen at the crease, the Lions appeared to have the upper hand again, but Justin Kreusch and Robin Peterson threatened to snatch victory away from them with a partnership of 66 runs. However, shortly before tea, Peterson prodded at a delivery from Deacon and was caught by Harris for 21.
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