Tsotsobe bowls Lions to victory

A three-wicket burst from Lonwabo Tsotsobe at the death helped Lions win their first Momentum Cup game, against Warriors in Potchefstroom, by 20 runs. Tsotsobe derailed a threatening Warriors chase and finished with 5 for 44, only his second List A five-wicket haul in 130 games.

Half-centuries from JJ Smuts and Colin Ingram had set up Warriors and they progressed to 195 for 2 in the 37th over before the slide began. Ryan Bailey and Somila Seyibokwe fell in successive overs, and Smuts followed soon too, but after Christiaan Jonker hit Aaron Phangiso for two sixes, Warriors needed 52 off 42 balls with five wickets in hand.

Tsotsobe then knocked over Jonker and Andrew Birch in the 44th over and Sisanda Magala in the 46th to lift Lions. At the end of Tsotsobe's spell, Warriors needed 39 off 24 balls and they were eventually dismissed for 271.

Lions' total of 291 for5 was set up by a collective batting performance. Quinton de Kock scored a brisk half-century at the top and Thami Tsolekile finished the innings with 51 off 36 balls. In the middle, Neil McKenzie contributed 73 while the others chipped in with handy cameos. All seven Lions batsmen made double-figure scores.