Venue: Kingsmead, Durban
Pitch Report: On a sunny day and a dry wicket, Jehan Mubarak of the Wayamba Elevens did not hesitate a bit to bat first after winning the toss. Like Ravi Shastri says, the pitch at Kingsmead Durban is a batsman's Paradise.
Mark Boucher-inspired Warriors chased down an almost challenging total of 153, to beat the Wayamba Elevens by seven wickets and register their first win in this year's Champions' League.
Chasing 153, The Warriors started well and made sure they were ahead of the required run rate at every point of time. Although, the Wayamba bowlers struck thrice in the first 11 overs, the runs never stopped coming for the Warriors. The game was all but over in the 14th over, when the muscular Mark Boucher hit Lokuarachichi for 21 runs, including two big sixes and a boundary. Steering clear off the required rate, Warriors eventually finished the game with ease with 10 balls to spare.
Earlier, electing to bat, Wayamba were immediately on the back foot, as Juan Theron got the dangerous Jayawardhane for a blob. In the same over, Theron went onto dismiss the number three batsman, Udawatte and Wayambe were struggling at 2-2.
The other opener, Kulatunga along with captain Mubarak, who majorly gave a stand at the other end of the wicket, began to straighten the innings and scored at a decent rate before Mubarak hit one straight down the Long Off fielder's throat in the 9th over.
In came Perera, who played an important knock of 39 and gave Kulatunga some support till the 15th over when Kulatunga mistimed a lofted shot and perished. The score then stood at 110-3.
From then on it was bits and pieces scoring from the lower middle-order and a good performance on the field from the Warriors restricted Wayamba to 153.
Turning Point : Inspite of it being a pretty low total, the game was still an open one till the 13th over when Warriors required 54 off the next 42 balls. Mark Boucher turned the game in their favour by scoring 21 runs in the next 6 deliveries and eventually won the game with 10 balls to spare.
The Hero: It gives me great happiness as I type in a bowler's name as the hero of the match.The local lad, Juan Theron, for his bowling figures of 3 for 23 from his quota of 4 overs, picking up important wickets of Jayawardhane, Udawatte and Perera thus, making sure to keep Wayambe away from a big total.
Man Of The Match : Juan Theron of the Warriors, for his disciplined bowling figures of 3 for 23 from 4 overs.
Scorecard :Warriors 156 for 3 (Boucher 40*, Kreusch 37*, Ingram 34) beat Wayamba 153 for 9 (Kulatunga 59, Kushal Perera 39, Theron 3-23) by seven wickets.
Pictures Courtesy: Cricinfo
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