Warriors seamer Rusty Theron produced his career-best figures of seven wickets for 46 runs as the Warriors completed a convincing 261-run victory over the Eagles on the final day of the SuperSport Series cricket match at Sahara Oval St George’s on Sunday.
Theron, whose previous best was six for 22 for Eastern Province against Western Province, took three of the remaining four Eagles wickets, while man-of-the-match Makhaya Ntini claimed the valuable scalp of Boeta Dippenaar to finish also with seven wickets in the game.
Set 501 to win by the Warriors on Saturday, the Eagles began Sunday on 166 for the loss of six wickets, still 335 runs adrift. The result was almost a foregone conclusion in a match that the Warriors dominated after dismissing the visitors for a record 28 all out on Friday.
But the Eagles had no plans of a meek surrender. They did suffer two early setbacks with the advent of the new ball after only eight overs in the day.
First they lost their banker Dippenaar via a leading off Ntini that found the safe hands of Arno Jacobs at second slip. Dillon de Preez followed moments later when Theron found the edge of his bat to present wicketkeeper and captain Davy Jacobs with a simple catch.
With only tail-enders remaining, one would have been forgiven for thinking that would be the end of it with the total on 184 for eight and only bowlers left to bat. But off-spinner Thandi Tshabalala showed great resolution in tandem with CJ de Villiers as the duo posted 65 for the ninth wicket in the remaining 85 minutes before lunch.
The Warriors managed to break the annoying partnership nine balls after the break when Theron enticed a drive out of De Villiers (11) who edge the ball to Davy Jacobs.
Theron trapped Victor Mpitsang in front of the wicket with the very next delivery to give the Warriors a clinical, well-deserved win. Tshabalala was left stranded at the other end on 51 not out — his maiden first-class century beating his previous best of 34.
As a result of the victory the Warriors have moved to the top of the series standings and will confidently head to East London for their match against the Titans on Thursday. — Sapa