Magala stars as Warriors dispatch Cobras

Cape Town - Sisanda Magala's five-wicket haul proved the difference as the Warriors beat the Cape Cobras by five wickets in a tight Momentum One-Day Cup encounter at PPC Newlands to go into the midway break in the competition level on top of the log with their opponents with 14 points.

Magala’s 5 for 40 included two key scalps and then a further interjection of three wickets in four balls, which ensured that the Cobras were limited to 250 for nine after they were asked to bat by the Warriors according to the Cricket South Africa website.

In contrast, the Cobras were unable to take wickets at the death in a tense run chase, allowing Christiaan Jonker (44 not out) and Colin Ackermann (35 not out) to put on an unbroken 79-run stand and carry the Warriors to victory with seven balls to spare.

The Cobras total was only marginally short of par, and would have been bigger had Magala not snapped a 72-run stand for the fourth wicket when he bowled Lesiba Ngoepe (37) and then got rid of top scorer Justin Ontong (77).

And while the Cobras scored at more over 10 runs per over in the final eight of their innings, it would have been uglier if the 24-year-old had not dismissed Wayne Parnell, Dane Paterson and Robin Peterson in quick succession to record the best figures for a Warriors bowler against the Cobras.

The Warriors chase was once again led by Colin Ingram, whose 70 gave him the second highest run tally in the competition with 298 from just four matches.

With Jon-Jon Smuts (39) having given the visitors a solid start and the middle order all chipping in, the Warriors always kept the asking rate in check.

Although Ingram’s dismissal opened the door for the Cobras, with Somila Seyibokwe (23) falling soon after to leave the Warriors with 77 to get from 63 balls, Jonker and Ackermann made it look easy in the end.