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East London - Chris Gayle put on a fireworks display with the bat to power the Lions to a comprehensive 10 wicket victory over the Warriors in their Ram Slam T20 Challenge clash at Buffalo Park, East London on Friday night.
Gayle smashed an unbeaten 108 off 55 balls - with partner Alviro Petersen scoring 29 off 35 balls. The pair made easy work of the opposition as they chased down the 145 target set by the Warriors with aplomb.
Gayle's batting exhibition came with 10 fours and seven sixes - most of them trademark pulls to the deep mid-wicket boundary.
His half-century came up in 26 minutes off only 21 balls with five fours and four sixes and his hundred came off 51 balls in just 61 minutes.
The Lions duo's clinical performance had the match wrapped up within 67 minutes at the crease.
Batting first, Warriors opener Craig Kieswetter slammed three fours off the first over bowled by Chris Morris, as he raced to his half-century off 40 balls.
Kieswetter was the standout batsman for the home side with his unbeaten 82 from 64 balls, with eight fours and three sixes.
But for the rest of the team it was a below par batting display as they finished on 144 for six wickets in their 20 overs. Kieswetter hit Hardus Viljoen for 27 runs in the final over to add some respectability to the Warriors' innings.
However, the 11th over, bowled by leg-spinner Eddie Leie changed the whole complexion of the innings. Leie had earlier dropped Jon-Jon Smuts at mid-off before the Warriors allrounder had scored, and was then despatched in his first over for a huge six by Kieswetter.
But in his second over Leie made amends when he had Smuts caught going for a big hit by Petersen on the long-on boundary.
Three balls later he had Warriors skipper Colin Ingram stumped in magnificent fashion by Thami Tsolekile and next ball Christiaan Jonker was given out leg before wicket.
Leie would finished with 3-19 off his four overs and was named as Bowler of the Match.
