PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, CMC – Warriors of South Africa sent Central Districts tumbling from the Champions League Twenty20 with a convincing six-wicket hammering as they clinched their third successive win here yesterday.
Captain Davey Jacobs stroked his second half-century of the tournament to inspire his Warriors to 181 for four with five balls left, as they made light work of the New Zealand side’s 175 for three from their allotted 20 overs.
A 27-year-old right-hander who is yet to play for South Africa, Jacobs cracked 74 from 47 balls and posted 147 for the first wicket with Ashwell Prince who scored 64, to set up their side’s uncomplicated victory at St George’s Park.
Jacobs counted five fours and six sixes while Prince scored four fours and two sixes, as they demoralized the Kiwis’ opening attack which was led by medium pacer Kieran Noema-Barnett with two for 28.
Earlier, Central Districts seemed to have done enough when Jamie How reeled off a superb, unbeaten 88 off 57 balls to post a challenging total after they chose to bat first.
They lost Peter Ingram without scoring to the second ball of the innings from left-arm seamer Lonwabo Tsotsobe but How shared two crucial partnerships to hold the innings together.
The right-hander, who hit 12 fours and three sixes, added 64 from 38 balls for the second wicket with Brad Patton (24) and then shared a further 100 from 61 balls for the fourth wicket with Noema-Barnett whose cameo, unbeaten 53 contained five fours and three sixes and required just 34 balls.