Eagles swoop into final

2006-02-13 21:45

Bloemfontein - The Eagles swooped into the Pro20 final on the wings of a soaring half-century by Loots Bosman in their semi-final against the Lions in Bloemfontein on Monday.

Bosman blitzed 75 off 38 balls with two fours and six sixes to bolster the home side's total of 188 for six.

The Lions limped to 154 for nine to hand the Eagles victory by 34 runs.

That means the Eagles and the Cobras will square off in the final at 14:30 in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

Bosman reached his 50 off 22 balls, the fastest half-century yet scored in this competition.

Alviro Petersen's too-little, too-late 51 not out off 28 balls was the best the Lions could come up with.

Roger Telemachus tore through their middle order to take four for 25.

Got rid of Bazooka Bosman

Jacques Rudolph's first innings back from Australia lasted one ball, which he edged on to his stumps to earn fellow returnee Charl Langeveldt a wicket with just the third ball of the match.

That brought Bosman and Morne van Wyk together, and they slammed 83 off 53 balls before Van Wyk pulled a delivery from Justin Ontong and was caught by Andy Blignaut at square leg for 26.

Two balls earlier, Ontong had Bosman, on 58, dropped by Cook in the covers.

The Lions finally rid themselves of Bazooka Bosman in the 13th over when he heaved a ball from Blignaut to long-on, where Langeveldt took the catch.

It all started to go wrong for the visitors in the fourth over when Adam Bacher, who scored eight, charged down the pitch and pulled a delivery from Cliffie Deacon to be caught at backward square leg.

Cook went in the 10th over, clean-bowled by Victor Mpitsang, and the Lions' last real hope was snuffed out two overs later.

That was when Blignaut, who made a mere three, fetched a Ryan McLaren delivery from the next parish and dragged it on to his stumps.

- News24