Chevrolet Warriors soar into MTN40 domestic series semi-finals

It's been a week of great success for the Chevrolet Warriors as they came out on top in two of their last three qualifying matches for the MTN40 domestic series. 

On Wednesday, 13 January 2010, the Warriors played the Nashua Dolphins at Buffalo Park in East London.  Winning the toss and electing to bat, the Dolphins faced an uphill battle against the Warriors' bowling attack as Lonwabo Tsotsobe took two quick wickets in the eighth over to get rid of opening batsman Loots Bosman and Cameron Delport.  Bosman's opening partner, Imraan Khan started to dig his heels into the innings with support from Ahmed Amla, but the partnership lasted only 30 runs before Khan was caught by Colin Ingram off Johan Botha's bowling.  Strong bowling from Tsotsobe (3/23), Botha (2/39), Nicky Boje (2/43) and Makhaya Ntini (1/26) helped limit the Dolphins to a total of 175/8 in their 40 overs, with only Dale Benkenstein showing resistance for his 50 off only 57 balls.

For the Warriors, Justin Kreusch stood out with his half-century of 52 off 64 balls, while Jon-Jon Smuts, Colin Ingram and Johan Botha scored a useful knock of just below 30 runs each.  With tensions running high at the prospects of a close finish, the Warriors managed to wrap up the game with seven balls remaining to the relief of the East London crowd.  The Warriors won the match by three wickets.

Friday 15 January 2010 saw the Chevrolet Warriors travel to Cape Town to take on the Nashua Cape Cobras at Newlands.  The Cape Cobras won the toss and elected to bat with Andrew Puttick and Stiaan van Zyl quickly opening the flow of runs.  It was Garnett Kruger who managed to break the 109-run opening partnership by bowling Van Zyl on 47 (off 46 balls), while Puttick went on to make 69 off 70 balls before being caught by Ingram off Boje's bowling.  Although all the Warriors bowlers ended their spells with wickets to their name, Johan Botha was the pick of the bowlers ending with figures of 3/29 in 8 overs. 

The Warriors walked out to the crease with the task of reaching 208 in their allotted 40 overs, but the Cobras' bowling attack was on target.  Charl Langeveldt took the lead for the Cape Cobras taking a well-deserved fiver and ending with figures of 5/17 off 8 overs.  Unfortunately the Warriors could only reach 155 runs off their 40 overs, resulting in a win for the Cape Cobras by 52 runs.

Rounding off their qualifying matches for the MTN40 series, the Warriors came up against the Bizhub Highveld Lions at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom on Sunday 18 January.  The coin fell in favour of the Warriors who chose to field first, but the bowlers had a tough job of stopping the runs on a good wicket.  Jonathan Vandiar and Neil McKenzie scored a good opening partnership of just under 100 runs before Vandiar fell to Kruger's bowling.  Ntini was the most successful Warriors bowler with his 3/51 off 8 overs, while Andrew Birch, Kruger and Botha took four wickets between them leaving the Lions on an impressive total of 297/7 after 40 overs. 

Soon after starting their innings, the Warriors' run chase was interrupted by rain which caused their target to be reduced by 23 runs to 275 off only 35 overs.  By the time play was resumed, the Warriors were hungry for runs and a victory.  Colin Ingram and Arno Jacobs accelerated the pace by scoring 60 runs before Jacobs fell victim to Werner Coetsee.  This however signaled the start of an epic 210-run partnership (131 balls) around the third wicket between Ingram and Justin Kreusch.  They put bat to ball in spectacular fashion to lead the Warriors to victory, before Kreusch was caught by Coetsee off his own bowling in the second-last over.  Ingram and Davy Jacobs brought the team home with one over to spare.  The Chevrolet Warriors won the game by a massive 7 wickets (D/L method), cementing their place in the semi-finals this coming Friday. 

It's down to the final four in the MTN40 series now as the Chevrolet Warriors come up against the Nashua Cape Cobras in their semi-final game on Friday, 22 January 2010 in Paarl.  We are 100% behind our boys, make sure you are too!

Catch the Warriors in action:

•·         MTN40 semi-final 1 - Friday, 22 January 2010 at 16:00 in Paarl.  The game will be televised on SuperSport S2; cross-over is at 15:30.