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Port Elizabeth - The Warriors held their nerve to clinch a 10-run victory over the Kings XI Punjab in an IPL warm-up fixture at Sahara Oval St George's on Tuesday.
An aggressive, unbeaten half-century by Colin Ingram helped the Warriors post a decent total of 151 for five after they were asked to bat first.
The Kings XI innings, who only managed 141 for six in reply, battled to get going as they lost wickets at regular intervals. But some forceful strokeplay by middle order batsman Taruwar Kohli brought them to within 19 to win off the last over bowled by Warren Bell.
Batting partner Karan Goel provided some anxious moments for about 1 500 home fans when he smashed a straight six into the media centre block to leave the equation at 13 off five balls.
But when Kohli was run out by wicketkeeper Davy Jacobs two balls later, and Bell finished off by conceding only two singles in the remaining three deliveries, the Warriors had claimed a well-deserved victory. Kohli made 36 runs off 26 deliveries including two fours and two sixes.
Their three star players, Australian Simon Katich (12), Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara (16) and Englishman Ravi Bopara (24) all got starts before losing their wickets.
Seamer Bell was the most successful of the Warriors bowlers taking the wickets of Katich and Bopara for 22 runs while Jon-Jon Smuts added the scalp of Sangakkara for one run less in his allotted four overs.
The Kings XI squad members will no doubt be happy that Wednesday is a travelling day because after their shoddy fielding performance it wouldn't have come as a surprise if coaches Tom Moody and Dave Nosworthy hit catches to them in training all day.
They were pathetic to say the least and dropped all of five catches. There was also the odd knock-on over the fence for four or six.
They really looked like a club side in the field and will need to pick up their game before their first fixture in the DLF Indian Premier League, in Cape Town on Saturday.
The Warriors were quick to capitalise on these errors and Ingram played some delightful strokes after surviving being bowled off a no-ball by Vikramjit Malik. He faced 43 balls and stroked five fours and two sixes in his 57 not out. VRV Singh picked up two wickets at the death to finish with four for 24.
