The Dafabet Warriors are the new kings of South African T20 cricket after clinching the CSA T20 Challenge title in Paarl on Sunday, 30 November. In a final that will live long in memory, they overcame Goldrush Boland in a Super Over after the teams were deadlocked on 142 runs apiece at the end of regulation play.
The Warriors’ bowlers set the tone early, striking in the powerplay to remove Clyde Fortuin and Grant Roelofsen before Boland could settle. At 49/3 after eight overs, the hosts looked in trouble, but Lehan Botha’s fighting 51 and Ferisco Adams’ 32 gave them hope, lifting the score to 141/6. Senuran Muthusamy was the standout with 3/23, while Thomas Kaber’s miserly spell of 1/18 kept the pressure on.
Chasing 143, Jordan Hermann played with authority, compiling a superb 74 off 53 balls. Tristan Stubbs added 37, and Senuran Muthusamy chipped in with 19, steering the Warriors towards victory. Yet the game twisted again when Siyabonga Mahima struck three times in quick succession, halting the chase. With just one run needed from the final four balls, the Warriors faltered. Aya Gqamane dismissed Muthusamy, and a brilliant direct hit from Fortuin ran out Stubbs to tie the scores and force a Super Over.
In the decider, Stubbs and Hermann showed their class, blasting 16 runs against Adams to set a daunting target. Aphiwe Mnyanda then held his nerve, removing Adams with a sharp catch near the boundary. Boland could muster only 6 runs in reply, sealing the Warriors’ triumph.
The Paarl crowd witnessed a contest that will be remembered as one of the most dramatic finals in South African T20 history. For the Warriors, it was not just about lifting a trophy, but about restoring pride, reigniting belief, and proving they remain a force in domestic cricket.
Their first T20 crown since 2009/10 and first domestic title since 2017/18 is more than silverware; it is a statement of resurgence, a reminder of their enduring spirit, and a promise of a new era led by stars who thrive under pressure.
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