Warriors take no prisoners

Incredible night of cricket sees Dolphins beaten by seven wickets as records tumble

The Warriors smashed their way to an incredible seven-wicket win as records tumbled in a fantastic CSA T20 Challenge match at Buffalo Park last night.

The Dolphins set the Warriors a huge 217 runs to win, but the hosts crossed the line with a full over to spare.

The Dolphins’ 216/5 at the end of 20 overs was the highest-ever T20 total at Buffalo Park and they were the first team to score more than 200, with the Warriors eclipsing them with 217/3.

A number of other records for Buffalo Park and the two teams on show also fell in an amazing night of cricket which saw 38 boundaries and 22 sixes in total hammered.

Captain Jon-Jon Smuts with an unbeaten 107 led the Warriors to the win, but Colin Ingram (55) backed him up superbly, while Kevin Pietersen (81) and Morne van Wyk (77) starred for the Dolphins.

The Warriors’ chase got off to a disastrous start as opener Clyde Fortuin fell for a third-ball duck to Mthokozisi Shezi.

However, this brought Ingram to the crease and he and Smuts began tearing into the Dolphins’ bowling attack.

Smuts was dropped for 16 in the fourth over, with the ball going for six, and this allowed the Warriors to bring up the 50 in the fifth over, off 28 balls.

Ingram was trapped for 55 off 26 balls (6x4, 3x6) by Imran Tahir in the 10th over.

Smuts then pulled Tahir over mid-wicket for a six in the 12th over to bring up his half century.

He brought up his century in the 18th over and the Warriors’ 200 came in the same over.

At the toss, the Dolphins elected to bat, with Warriors opening bowler Basheer Walters striking in the first over as Cameron Delport was bowled for five.

Pietersen and Van Wyk then began to hammer the Warriors’ bowling attack.

Van Wyk brought up the Dolphins 50 in the fifth over off just 26 balls and two balls later was given a reprieve on 18 when Qaasim Adams dropped him off the bowling of Sisanda Magala.

Van Wyk reached his half century in the 10th over and then Pietersen hammered Aya Gqamane for consecutive sixes.

In the 16th over, Walters broke the massive 145-run partnership, having Van Wyk caught behind by Fortuin for 77 off 52 balls (12x4).

Robbie Frylinck then smashed 22 off nine balls (4x4, 1x6) and after he hit Magala for three consecutive boundaries in the 17th over, the bowler got his revenge, uprooting the off stump.

Pietersen hammered two sixes in the 18th over before Magala bowled him for 81 of 46 balls (4x4, 6x6) in the 19th.