Our DP World Lions ensured they will host the CSA T20 Challenge final on Sunday with a commanding victory over the Titans in Johannesburg on Wednesday night, winning their semi-final by a massive eight wickets with 20 balls to spare.
Continuing the fine form that saw them top the log after the round-robin stage, #ThePrideOfJozi overwhelmed the Titans with the control and skill of their bowling and then raced to victory with a powerful batting display. Having successfully converted the top spot into a home final at the DP World Wanderers Stadium on Sunday afternoon, the Lions will now face either the Dolphins or the Warriors in the other semi-final in Durban on Thursday evening.
Winning the toss, the DP World Lions batted first and restricted the visitors to 38 for one in the powerplay before a 20-minute delay to restore floodlights did nothing to dampen their momentum.
If anything, the DP World Lions came out even more determined and ruthless as they claimed the next eight Titans wickets for just 87 runs. Our main hero was once again young leg-spinner Nqaba Peter, one of the domestic season's finds, as he tore through the Titans middle-order, taking four for 18 from his four overs.
Peter, 21, has now taken 19 wickets in the campaign at a ridiculous average of 7.78, while conceding just 5.19 runs per over. Another of our exciting young players, Codi Yusuf, was also excellent, taking two for 25 from his four overs.
With the match reduced to 18 overs due to the delay, the Titans finished on 131 for nine. The DLS recalculation meant our target was 134 from 18 overs.
Ryan Rickelton continued his pursuit of the leading run-scorer title with a punishing 38 off 26 balls, his only boundaries being three big sixes, but the real carnage came with the bat of Rassie van der Dussen.
The DP World Wanderers became a massacre for the bowlers as the veteran Proteas star raced to a fiery 73 not out off just 45 balls, hitting eight fours and a six. He added 85 off 53 deliveries for the second wicket with Rickelton. Temba Bavuma (19* off 13) then joined him in the middle as the game was won, adding an unbeaten 46 off 31 balls for the third wicket.
Yusuf and Wiaan Mulder had earlier removed Titans openers Lhuan-dre Pretorius (8) and Rivaldo Moonsamy (24) before Peter came on in the ninth over.
The experienced Sibonelo Makhanya (6) was beaten in flight and bowled trying to sweep. Then, in his third over, Peter removed Neil Brand (7) and David Wiese (0) with successive deliveries. Brand was caught top-edging a sweep, Bavuma made plenty of ground to take a brilliantly judged running catch at midwicket, while Wiese failed to see the googly and was bowled comprehensively.
Corbin Bosch (9), batting ambitiously but in vain, then became Peter's fourth and final victim, Yusuf taking a very composed catch at the cow-corner boundary. It was the second time this season that the youngster, who bowls a lively leg spin with plenty of variation, had taken four wickets in an innings.