Cricket
Rain has the final say in the One-Day Cup─── MORGAN PIEK 08:14 Mon, 04 Apr 2022
The final round of the CSA One-Day Cup saw several matches abandoned after heavy rains across the country.
In Division One, only one match had a positive outcome while the three other matches were called off due to inclement weather.
The North West Dragons and Imperial Lions were meant to go head-to-head in Potchefstroom for a second spot in the final. Winner of this encounter would go through to the final to take on the Titans on Wednesday. The umpires had to call off the match this afternoon without a ball bowled due to a wet outfield.
Lions went into the match two points ahead of the Dragons and will proceed to the Division One final.
Having already qualified for the final, the Titans were put to the bat first by the Western Province at SuperSport Park.
Western Province needed a bonus point win to go through to the final, considering the result between the Dragons and Lions. Rain came down in Centurion with only 20 overs played and the match was called off. The two teams shared the spoils.
In Bloemfontein, the Itec Knights opted to bowl first against the Dolphins. The weather changed towards the end of the first innings and the players could not go back out to the field. The match was abandoned, with Dolphins on 208/9 in 48 overs.
In the only complete Division One encounter, Warriors secured an 86-run victory over the Rocks.
After being put to the bat first in their own backyard, centuries from Wihan Lubbe and Jon-Jon Smuts powered the Warriors to a massive total of 357 runs.
Lubbe, with a man-of-the match performance, led the batting attack with 162 runs (12 boundaries and seven maximums). Smuts, also anchoring the innings, smashed 125 off 114 (14 boundaries and one maximum) as the duo shared a 280-run partnership.
Both batters fell to Siyabonga Mahima’s bowling. Hardus Viljoen claimed three to dismiss Matthew Breetzke (22), Tristan Stubbs (16), and Sinethemba Qeshile without any runs.
Half centuries from Stiaan van Zyl (59), Valentine Kitme (56), and Imran Manack (51*) were not enough as Rocks were bowled out with 271 runs.
Smuts continued where he left off with the bat to claim three wickets in his ten overs.
