Birch, Ackermann to the fore in easy Warriors win

Andrew Birch, the pacer, did the damage with the ball as Warriors beat Dolphins by nine wickets to earn a bonus point win in Durban. That meant they opened up four-point lead over Lions and jump to the second spot in the Momentum One Day Cup standings.

Birch returned career-best List A figures of 4 for 15 as Dolphins, who opted to bat, were shot out for 110 in 28.3 overs. Keshav Maharaj, the No. 9 batsman, top scored with an unbeaten 43. That only four batsmen managed to get into double figures was an indication of Dolphins' struggle. While Birch wrecked the top and middle order, Ayabulela Gqamane, the pacer, dismantled the tail to finish with three scalps.

Warriors turned a small chase into a cruise courtesy a 106-run opening stand in 22 overs between JJ Smuts and Colin Ackermann. A 10-wicket thrashing was avoided as Andile Phehlukwayo, the pacer, dismissed Smuts one short of his half-century, but Ackermann, who hit eight fours and a six in his 83-ball innings knocked off the winning runs with 157 balls to spare.