George Linde delivered a stunning allround performance to help the Cape Cobras to their first win of the T20 season, beating the Warriors by 24 runs on Tuesday.
The Proteas spinner first showed his class with bat in hand, scoring an unbeaten 48 off just 20 balls in an innings that included no fewer than six fours and two sixes.
With opener Zubayr Hamza scoring 57 at the top of the batting order, the Capetonians scored a superb 181/5 after being put in to bat by the men from Port Elizabeth.
Linde then made sure of the Man of the Match award when he bagged 4/25 to help put the Warriors on their knees on 75/7.
Tail-enders Marco Jansen (47) and Anrich Nortje (25) then set up a thrilling end to the match with a harregat 67-run partnership for the eighth wicket.
With the Cobras’ bowling attack also conceding 16 runs through byes – including 14 through wides – they made life difficult for themselves, but ultimately pulled through to claim their first win in four outings as the Warriors were bowled out for 157.
Finishing the match at the top of the tournament’s wicket-takers list with eight scalps and sixth on the run scorer’s list with 97, Linde says of his form: “After the first game I took a look at myself and had to make the step up for the team and glad I could do that.”
The Cobras next face the Lions on Friday.