Magala sets Warriors up for table-topping win

Sisanda Magala took five wickets for the Warriors against the Dolphins on Tuesday
Sisanda Magala took five wickets for the Warriors against the Dolphins on Tuesday
Image: Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images

A fourth career five-for by Sisanda Magala helped the Warriors unseat the Hollywoodbets Dolphins at the top of the Momentum One-Day Cup standings with an eight-wicket DLS victory at Kingsmead in Durban on Tuesday.

The seamer grabbed five for 59 in 9.2 overs as the hosts, who had won their first three matches heading into the game, were bowled out for 244 after winning the toss and batting.

Gihahn Cloete then gave the visitors a strong start with his 55 (76 balls, 7 fours) that was interrupted by lightning and rain that held up the match for nearly one-and-a-half hours, before Jon-Jon Smuts bashed his side to the revised 152 (31 overs) with 18 balls to spare.

It was a first loss of the season for the local side in what was their first match at their east coast home. But they had themselves to blame after slipping from a strong position to be bowled out in 49.2 overs.

Their two stars were Standard Bank Proteas duo Andile Phehlukwayo and David Miller in their final matches before heading for national duty. After the loss of four relatively early wickets left the Dolphins on 85 for four, the pair did well to lay a strong platform ahead of the final overs for their side.

They shared in a 104-run fifth-wicket stand with both striking 68 - Miller off 82 balls (7 fours) and the in-form Phehlukwayo off 72 deliveries (7 fours, 2 sixes) - his third half-century in a row.

However, they were both removed within the space of 10 deliveries by Magala and Lutho Sipamla (2/45), with the home side eventually losing their last six wickets for 55 runs.

Cloete and Matthew Breetzke (17) began the reply with 47 for the Warriors, before Smuts carried on the momentum to leave them on 90 for one when lightning forced the umpires to halt play.

A heavy shower then arrived prompting more time to be lost, before the Eastern Cape franchise returned requiring 62 in just over 10 overs.

After Cloete fell quickly to Imran Tahir (1/21), Smuts and Lesiba Ngoepe rushed home with 18 balls to spare.

- Cricket South Africa

 

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