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Cape Town - An unbeaten 73 not out from veteran Lions batsman Neil McKenzie has lifted his side to a four wicket victory in their One-Day Cup over the Cobras at Newlands, in Cape Town, on Sunday.
Chasing 207 for victory, the Lions reached their target and notched up their for win of their cup campaign, with McKenzie still at the crease and four balls to spare.
Coming to the wicket at 48 for 2 after the departure of Rassie van Dussen, McKenzie made a measured start to his innings.
Young opener Quinton de Kock looked good for his 47 from 62 balls before he holed out to extra cover off the bowling of Shaheen Kahn to leave his side in a bit of trouble at 76 for 3 in the 23rd over.
McKenzie, however, with new batsman Temba Bavuma combined for an 83 run partnership to steady the ship for the visitors. Bavuma was out suddenly as he was run out by Justin Ontong a ball short of 40 overs with the Lions still needing 48 to win.
While the Cobras would have always thought they had a chance of pulling of the win, it was the Lions through the leadership of McKenzie who led his side home for the important victory.
Earlier, the Lions won the toss and chose to bowl first, and restricted the Cobras to 206.
Four wickets from Lions seamer Hardus Viljoen helped keep the Cobras from posting a bigger score. His figures, though a tad expensive, of 4 for 61 in his 9.4 overs were key in bowling the Cobras all out for 206 in 48.overs.
Viljoen's first scalp was opener Dane Vilas in the 10th over as the batsman chased a full wide delivery, and keeper de Kock took a regulation catch off the thick edge.
Viljoen bagged another three strikes in the final stages of the innings which included the prized wicket of Cobras top-scorer Justin Kemp for 67 in the penultimate over of the innings.
The top four in the Cobras batting lineup combined for a meagre 45 runs between them, before Justin Ontong (37) and Kemp restored some respectability to their score.
