Johannesburg, 20 October 2026
Even the combined heat of the Northern Cape team and a sweltering Johannesburg afternoon that reached 32° could not derail our DP World Lions’ victory charge as they romped to their third successive victory and a bonus point win in their Pro20 Cup match on Sunday.
Having sent the Northern Cape Heat in to bat, the DP World Lions bowlers showed excellent composure and control in the second half of the innings to restrict the visitors to 137 for five in their 20 overs. That was then chased down in a hurry by #ThePrideOfJozi, who rattled up 139 for two in 12 overs, cruising to their second bonus point of the tournament with four overs to spare.
The bowling honours were shared between paceman Codi Yusuf and leg-spinner Nqaba Peter.
Yusuf bowled extremely well with the new ball and claimed the opening wicket in the fifth over when he had Liam Doherty (16) caught at mid-off, trying to hit the energetic and skilful seamer off a hard length wide of off-stump, with pace off. He then removed the well-set Kyle Jacobs (34) in the 17th over to stop any late surges from Northern Cape, conceding just 11 runs in his two overs at the death to finish with outstanding figures of 4-0-16-2.
The Northern Cape Heat had a decent powerplay, however, reaching 41 for one, but Peter stopped their momentum when he bowled Nonelela Yikha with his first ball and then, in his next over, he had the threatening Steve Stolk (35 off 29) caught skewing a catch over extra cover as the Proteas leggie obtained some turn from an excellent DP World Wanderers Stadium pitch.
Peter, who has really found some good form over the last week or so, finished with two for 27 in his four overs, while young JJ Basson was also impressive, conceding just 25 runs in his four overs. The best statistic in terms of how well our DP World Lions bowled as a unit is that Northern Cape only managed to score 70 runs in the last 11 overs, despite being well-placed at 67 for two after nine overs.
If the visitors thought Peter’s excellent display meant spin could be a weapon for them too, they were sadly mistaken as Connor Esterhuizen took down left-arm spinner Odirile Modimokoane in the first over, hammering two sixes and a four.
Esterhuizen was then unfortunately dismissed for 19 off just seven deliveries two balls into the second over. Then came the turn of Zubayr Hamza who played a commanding innings to score his third half-century in four innings of the T20 competition this season.
Hamza’s 52 off 31 balls, with five fours and three sixes, was ruthlessly aggressive and stylistically beautiful at the same time, and his partnership of 90 off just 54 deliveries with Rassie van der Dussen set up an easy race for the bonus point.
Van der Dussen himself looked most assured at the crease and he steered our DP World Lions home with his skilful and fiery 47 not out off 25 balls.
The DP World Lions are now second in Pool B, level on points with the HollywoodBets Dolphins, and are guaranteed a place in the Super 8s ahead of their final pool game, against the Limpopo Impalas at Wits University on Saturday.