The bizhub Highveld Lions face the Warriors in East London tomorrow (Thursday 11 January) and will hope that their good away form can continue as they aim for a semi-final spot.
The team had a rather topsy-turvy Momentum One Day Cup experience during the past festive season period. They were involved in close run chases, final ball victories, run away wins as well as hammering defeats.
It all started on quite a dreary note for the Lions who fell to a six-wicket defeat to the Warriors in Johannesburg in the opening match on 20 December. The Lions followed this up with a nail-biting two-wicket win against the Dolphins at Senwes Park on Saturday, 23 December in a pulsating day-night match. Potchefstroomers were treated to a last-ball thriller with Hardus Viljoen hitting the winning runs.
The Lions could not keep their momentum and has to see their winning streak end, thanks to their old rivals from across the Jukskei River, the Titans. The Titans won this match at the Wanderers by 32 runs with the experienced Albie Morkel smashing 81 runs.
The Lions and VKB Knights then went at it hammer and tongs in Kimberley, where neither side could be separated and the match ended in a tie.
Viljoen was once again the hero for the Lions as his unbeaten 45 (22) and last ball single thwarted the Knights in their own backyard.
The Lions then quickly came back down to earth as they felt the wrath of JP Duminy’s bat in their match against the Cape Cobras at the Wanderers on Sunday. His innings of 80 led the Cobras to an easy 7-wicket victory.
Chances are that today’s match against the Warriors will be one that goes down to the wire if history has the final say.