Lions down WP to defend crown as One-Day Cup champions

The Lions successfully defended their Cricket South Africa (CSA) One-Day Cup title with a 62-run win against Western Province at the Wanderers on Thursday. 

Following a delayed toss, the match was reduced to 48 overs per side as the visitors opted to have the ball first. 

The Lions dominated the first innings with opening pair, Joshua Richards and Ryan Rickelton amassing 142 runs for the first wicket. 

Rickelton (75 off 63 with 14 boundaries) departed in the 23rd over off a brilliant delivery from George Linde. 

Richards found another partner in Reeza Hendricks (69 off 64) and shared 71 runs before the former was caught by Beuran Hendricks off Nandre Burger with 94 runs (nine boundaries and two maximums). 

Mitchell van Buuren delivered another half century in the innings in his 62 off 36 (six boundaries and two maximums). Evan Jones then smashed a quick 30 off 16 as Wiaan Mulder (10*) and Sisanda Magala (1*) ended the innings with 358/5. 

In response, Tony de Zorzi delivered a powerful knock up front with 88 off 69 (nine boundaries and three maximums). 

Western Province lost the early wicket of Jonathan Bird (13), caught behind by Rickelton in the seventh over off Lutho Sipamla.

However, de Zorzi and Edward Moore combined for 113 runs before Sipamla found another breakthrough to see off De Zorzi and Zubayr Hamza for 0 in the 25th over. 

Moore’s run-a-ball 82 played a huge role in bringing back the game for the visitors before Reeza Hendrick’s spell in the 34th over off saw off both Moore and Daniel Smith (24). 

Hendricks recorded (3/18), adding the dismissal of Beuran Hendricks for nine runs. 

Malusi Siboto claimed two scalps, seeing of Linde (42) and Nandre Burger and Western Province ended on 296 all out. 

Sipamla earned a man of