Highveld Lions keep perfect T20 Challenge record

JOHANNESBURG: Highveld Lions defeated Warriors by 47 runs Sunday to maintain a perfect record four rounds into the South African Twenty20 Challenge.

The Johannesburg franchise are nine points ahead of Cape Cobras, who crushed Dolphins by nine wickets in Cape Town thanks to unbeaten knocks by Richard Levi (80) and Dane Vilas (43).

Quinton de Kock, whose 126 runs against the Cobras last weekend was a record T20 score in South Africa, hit 47 as Lions reached 162-7 off 20 overs in north-western university town Potchefstroom.

Simon Harmer (33) and Ashwell Prince (25) did best with the bat for Warriors, but Hardus Viljoen (3-12) ensured the Port Elizabeth visitors never seriously threatened to overtake the pacesetters and they were all out for 115.

Former England Test cricketer Ravi Bopara struck 60 as Dolphins compiled 134-6, but Levi and Vilas lifted Cobras to 137-1 with 20 balls to spare at Newlands.