In a thrilling final round of the T20 Challenge’s round-robin stage, Division 1 teams battled fiercely on Saturday to secure spots in the playoffs, with dramatic encounters across three venues setting the stage for the knockout rounds.
At the top-of-the-table clash in Potchefstroom, the DP World Lions edged out Auto Investments North West Dragons by a tight five-run margin at JB Marks Oval. Opting to bat first after winning the toss, the Lions posted a solid 170/3. Connor Esterhuizen was the standout performer, crafting an unbeaten 62 off 39 balls, while seasoned campaigner Rassie van der Dussen added a crucial 59. The Lions’ disciplined batting laid a challenging target for the hosts.
In their chase, the Dragons came agonizingly close, finishing on 165/6, just five runs short. Young talent Ludwich Schuld kept the contest alive with a gritty 60, supported by useful contributions from Marco Jansen (29) and Wihan Lubbe (21). Despite their efforts, the Dragons fell short, leaving the Lions to claim a narrow victory.
In Gqeberha, the Momentum Multiply Titans sealed a dominant six-wicket win over the Dafabet Warriors via the DLS method, securing second place on the standings. The Warriors, facing a must-win situation to stay in playoff contention, batted first and rode on Jordan Hermann’s magnificent century (101) to post a competitive 179/6. But as rain disrupted proceedings, the Titans were set a revised target of 174.
The Titans’ chase was anchored by half-centuries from Rivaldo Moonsamy (73) and Dayyaan Galiem (55), who combined for a steady partnership that guided the team to victory with a score of 174/4, clinching the win with ease.
Meanwhile, in Durban, Goldrush Boland kept their playoff hopes alive with a crucial four-run victory over Hollywoodbets Dolphins in a rain-affected match. Boland needed not only a bonus-point win but also favorable results elsewhere to progress. Choosing to bat first after the Dolphins won the toss and opted to field, Boland reached 167/4, thanks to a 50 from Shaun von Berg and valuable knocks from Keith Dudgeon (36) and Lehan Botha (31).
The Dolphins’ response was stifled by Boland’s disciplined bowling, as they reached 85/5 after 10 overs before rain curtailed the match, leaving Boland to claim a narrow DLS win.
Playoff Format Explained:
Qualifier 1: The top two teams meet in a direct clash, with the winner advancing to the final and the loser getting a second chance in Qualifier 2.
Eliminator: A do-or-die showdown between the third and fourth-placed teams, with the victor moving on to Qualifier 2.
Qualifier 2: The loser of Qualifier 1 faces the winner of the Eliminator, with the last final spot at stake.
Final: The winners of Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2 compete for the championship title.
With the stakes rising and the competition heating up, the stage is set for an exciting finish to this year’s T20 Challenge.
