Warriors into YesPlay Pro20 Cup final after clinical win over Boland

Dafabet Warriors booked their place in the final of the inaugural YesPlay Pro20 Cup at the YesPlay Newlands in Cape Town, after an eight-wicket win over familiar foes Dafabet Boland.

The two contested the first semi-final in a repeat of last year’s T20 Challenge Final, which was also won by the Eastern Cape side after a Super Over.

They met again in the Super 8s of this competition last week, with Boland exacting revenge after they again finished tied and required an extra over to separate them.

It wasn’t to be this time around as Warriors won the toss and put their opponents in to bat and the opening pair of Neil Brand and Blayde Capell started well until the former was dismissed for 25 runs in the fourth over.

They added 22 more runs to the scoreboard before Gavin Kaplan became Matthew Boast’s second victim for just 10 runs.

Capell then put together a 41-run partnership with Gysbert Wege, who fell just two short of his half century as he top-scored for them on the way to 160-7 total in their 20 allotted overs.

The Warriors’ chase got off to a shaky start with Boland striking early with the wicket of Sibonelo Makhanya, who departed after two deliveries.

His opening partner Jordan Hermann kept calm a built their innings with JP King, putting together a second wicket partnership of 55 before King was stumped by Capell having been lured down the crease by Imran Manack.

In came Tristan Stubbs who helped Batter of the Match Hermann through the rest of the innings with a massive 99-run third wicket stand, as the latter finished with an unbeaten 82 to lead his team to a comprehensive victory in just over 18 overs.

They’ll face the winner of the second semi-final between YesPlay Cobras and DP World Lions, which takes place this afternoon at the same venue, in the decider later on as the curtain comes down on the 2026 YesPlay Pro20 Cup.