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ANOTHER superb display of death bowling from the Chevrolet Warriors saw them clinch a crucial RAM SLAM T20 victory over the Sunfoil Dolphins at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Sunday.
The Dolphins looked certain to chase down a target of 142 when they reached 101 for three after 14 overs, but the dismissal of David Miller (60) turned the game on its head, and the Warriors came away with a two-run win that moved them up to second on the table.
Miller had struck his third half-century of the competition in a 91-run partnership with Khaya Zondo, but once he was caught behind off the bowling of Lundi Mbane the Warriors were able to turn the screws on the new batsmen.
Zondo pulled things back in the Dolphins’ favour by hitting 12 from Wayne Parnell’s last three deliveries, which saw the left-armer finish with 3 for 27 and leave Rusty Theron with just eight to defend in the final over.
However, Theron duly confirmed his status as one of the finest finishers in the country when he allowed just five runs from the first five deliveries, leaving Zondo with three to get from the last ball.
With the batsman castled for 56, Theron had pulled off a key victory for the Warriors, who now have 20 points from nine matches, while the Dolphins have 19 from seven.
Although none of the Warriors had managed a half-century in their total of 141 for six as Kyle Abbott took 3 for 21, Jon-Jon Smuts (36) and Ryan Bailey (49) had just enough support to give the bowlers something to defend.
The Dolphins and The Unlimited Titans will have the opportunity to leapfrog the Warriors before the final round of fixtures next Sunday, in which the Warriors must travel to Sahara Park Newlands to face the table-topping Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras.
