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East London - Career-best figures by Tladi Bokako helped the Warriors record only the second overall win of the Sunfoil Series season as they stunned the Highveld Lions by 29 runs on day three of their clash at Buffalo Park in East London on Saturday.
The young right-arm quick claimed figures of four for 15 to help the hosts run riot with the ball and blow the visitors away for 131 in their pursuit of 161.
His figures, in only his sixth match for the Eastern Cape side, were his best at franchise level, improving on the two for 38 he had taken in the same fixture last season.
Bokako was the pick of the bowlers, but there was also key support from spinners Simon Harmer (3/47) and Jon-Jon Smuts (2/27), who shared five wickets.
The Lions will be kicking themselves, though, after throwing away a golden chance to bounce back from a disappointing white-ball season.
They started the day on 12 for one and needing only 149 further runs for victory.
But Bokako struck in the opening over when he dismissed Reeza Hendricks (6) lbw and the away side never recovered.
Further wickets of Omphile Ramela (6) and Nicky van den Bergh saw his figures read 5-3-3-3 after his first spell, leaving the Lions on 13 for four.
Rassie van der Dussen tried his best to lead a recovery, but his 40 lacked much support as the men from Johannesburg were bundled out in 48.4 overs.
Victory for the Warriors moved them top of the table, but that could change after the two remaining matches of round six are completed on Sunday.
