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Beyers Swanepoel smashed a brilliant half-century and claimed 2-15 to help the Dafabet Warriors to a crucial five-wicket CSA T20 Challenge victory over World Sports Betting Western Province at World Sports Betting Newlands in Cape Town on Wednesday evening.
Swanepoel (83), a lower-order bowling allrounder, was sent up the order at the fall of Jiveshan Pillay’s wicket and cracked nine boundaries and four maximums from just 39 balls as the Warriors ended on 150 for five with 14 balls to spare in response to WP’s 148 for seven after Beuran Hendricks had won the toss and elected to bat first.
Swanpoel was absolutely brutal at the top of the order, an unfamiliar position for the left-hander. Pillay was succumbed into mistiming a shot from Mihlali Mpongwana (3-0-23-2) to Abdullah Bayoumy at extra-cover.
Captain Matthew Breetzke (4) was an absolute passenger in the second-wicket stand of 32, which came off only 18 balls, as Swanepoel carted the home side’s bowling attack all over the park.
Breetzke faced nine balls before driving Wesley Bedja (4-1-13-1) straight to George Linde at mid-off.
Despite the loss of his captain, Swanepoel continued on his merry way, adding another 66 runs for the third wicket from only 42 deliveries with Tristan Stubbs (10).
Mpongwana then grabbed his second scalp of the night, trapping Stubbs in front.
Swanepoel eventually fell, caught at deep mid-wicket by Bayoumy from the bowling of Linde (2-0-19-1) but by the time of his departure, the damage had been done.
The loss of Sinethemba Qeshile’s wicket, run out at the striker’s end by Mpongwana for 17, the Warriors required just 10 from the final 23 balls.
Senuran Muthusamy (18 not out) and Patrick Kruger (7 not out) knocked off the final runs to hand the Warriors a valuable victory which moves them above Province on the log.
Earlier, Linde was a Lonestar for the home side, cracking two fours and six maximums from only 31 balls to end unbeaten on 66.
Linde’s effort was in vain as the Warriors’ attack claimed wickets at crucial times, preventing the hosts from building any meaningful partnerships.
Linde added 32 for the fourth wicket with Kyle Verreynne (18) and 35 for the fifth-wicket with Mpongwana (10) but Bayoumy (5) and Kyle Simmonds (0) were unable to contribute.
Linde though continued the fight by himself, pushing Province to their par-score by bludgeoning 26 runs off the final over, bowled by Kruger (4-0-56-0).
Swanepoel’s contribution with the ball was top-notch, claiming the wickets of Jonathan Bird (23) and Mpongwana for an economy rate of less than four runs to the over.
CJ King (4-0-27-3) bagged two wickets in two balls in his final over, added to the scalp of the dangerous Eddie Moore (4) with his first ball of the innings.
Alfred Mothoa (4-0-30-2) bowled well in the middle overs, having Valentine Kitime (17) caught in the deep by Stubbs before having Verreynne top-edging to Qeshile behind the stumps.
The Warriors, who have now won three on the trot against Western Province, head home to host the Auto Investments North West Dragons on Saturday while Western Province travel to Durban to take on the Hollywoodbets Dolphins on Sunday.
*As published on Supersport.com
