Port Elizabeth - In-form fast bowler Hardus Viljoen snapped up another four scalps as the Highveld Lions whipped the Warriors by six wickets in their One-Day Cup cricket match in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.
Viljoen cut through the Warriors top, middle and lower order to collect 4/17 in just under eight overs, taking his tally of wickets to 10 after only two matches.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, the Warriors could muster only 110 runs in almost 36 overs. It was their worst total against the Highveld Lions in this format of the game and was also their second-lowest ever against all opposition in the competition, “bettering” their 71 all out against the Knights, in Port Elizabeth, in the 2010-11 season.
Only Davy Jacobs (34) and Ashwell Prince (21) made any notable contributions with the bat.
Slow left-arm bowler Aaron Phangiso proved the perfect partner to Viljoen and bowled wicket-to-wicket to pick up three leg-before decisions from umpire Ian Howell's end. Phangiso eventually finished with 3/16 in his nine overs.
The Lions recovered from the early loss of Gulam Bodi for nought off the third ball of their innings and captain Stephen Cook (24) and Quinton de Kock (34) posted 59 runs for the second wicket before they suffered a mini-collapse, set in motion by Wayne Parnell knocking over De Kock and then a double-wicket maiden from Basheer Walters, which sent Cook and Temba Bavuma (nought) packing.
But the experience of both Neil McKenzie and Zander de Bruyn restored calm as the Lions strolled to what proved to be a comfortable win. The pair shared an unbroken stand of 52 for the fifth wicket with McKenzie unbeaten on 29.
The Lions now travel to Cape Town to face the Cape Cobras while the Warriors will be on a plane to face the Dolphins in Durban. Both matches are scheduled for Friday. - Sapa