Ground: | Centurion Park, Centurion |
Scorecard: | Lions v South Australia |
Player: | M Klinger, CJ Ferguson |
Event: | Champions League 2010/11 |
Inspired by skipper Michael Klinger's blistering 78 South Australia Redbacks cruised to an 11-run victory over Highveld Lions. Klinger led from the front with a strokeful half-century which had six fours and five sixes in it to take his side to 178 for six. Callum Ferguson supported his skipper scored a 27-ball 47 as the duo shared 97 runs from just 57 balls for the third wicket.
 
Highveld Lions were on course of their chase of a stiff target of 179 as they raised 90 for three at the halfway mark before they lost way later. 
South Australia lost opener Daniel Harris and one-down Graham Manou cheaply to reach 65 for two at the halfway mark before pressing the accelerator. The Australian side scored 113 runs in the second half of their innings. The duo were particularly severe on pacers Zander de Bruyn and Ethan O'Reilly. Ferguson was run out in the 18th over after hitting seven fours in his 27-ball innings. Lions were spot-on on the field and affected three run outs including two in the last over. 
Opener Jonathan Vandiar failed to repeat his heroics from the last game as he was out in the first over, dragging a Shaun Tait express delivery to his off stump. Skipper Alviro Petersen kept the Lions on course with some aggressive batting but once he was out in the 13th over, the South African side's run chase lost direction. 
With the asking rate mounting, Lions lower order batsmen failed to deliver at the slog overs. Lions needed 32 form the last two overs and Robert Frylinck smashed two sixes off Tait in the penultimate over before he was out in the same over. That left 19 runs to be scored from the last over for a victory which Lions tailenders could not achieve. 
For Redbacks, Tait was the most successful bowler with three for 36 from his four overs. Daniel Christian chipped in with two wickets while Aaron O'Brien got one.