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Bowlers hand Lions victory

Kimberley - Dwaine Pretorius led a superb bowling display by taking three wickets as the bizhub Highveld Lions secured an unlikely 45-run victory over the VKB Knights after tea on day three of their Sunfoil Series encounter in Kimberley on Saturday.

After being shot out for a sorrowful 94 during the first session, the visitors were staring defeat in the face having only 138 runs to defend.

But Pretorius took three for 37, Eddie Leie grabbed two for seven and Pumelela Matshikwe two for 19 as the home side were sent crashing to an even more woeful 92 in 44.5 overs.

Victory was the Lions' third in four games and came on the back of their great escape against the Cape Cobras last week, when their wagging tail saved them in Paarl.

This time around, though, it was the bowlers who shone at the Diamond Oval.

Not just the Lions bowlers too as it was Malusi Siboto who demolished the away teams' batsmen earlier in the day when he claimed a career-best seven for 44.

It was the second best figures in a meeting between the two franchises after Tumi Masekela recorded the best figures of seven for 38 during the first innings.

Masekela also took two for 38 second time around for a match haul of nine wickets.

Captain Stephen Cook top-scored with 29, before some late order resistance by Aaron Phangiso (24) and Eddie Leie (21) prevented them from further embarrassment.

The reply was equally poor by the Knights as they lost wickets regularly, including the key one of Rilee Rossouw for four with only six on the board.

Reeza Hendricks top scored with 20 as the home side lost for the second time in four games.

They picked up 5.42 points in the process, with the visitors walking away with 17.02 points.

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