Australia  Redbacks to win
CAPTAIN Michael Klinger led from the front as his 78 helped South Australia Redbacks to an 11-run Champions League Twenty20 win over the Lions.
Klinger’s impressive score came off 48 balls as his side made 178 for six after being put into bat at SuperSport Park in Centurion. Shaun Tait’s three for 36 then helped the attack restrict the Lions to 167 for eight in their chase as they just edged home.
After Daniel Harris fell for 13 and Graham Manou (12) followed soon after to leave the Lions on 52 for two, opener Klinger teamed up with vice captain Callum Ferguson to share a 97-run partnership and rack up a decent tally.
By the time Ferguson (47) was run out, the Redbacks were on a healthy 149 for three. Klinger followed 10 runs later, caught by Alviro Petersen off Zander de Bruyn.
Two more run-outs followed as Cameron Borgas and Tom Cooper both departed having faced only two balls each, the latter at least managing to smash a six before returning to the stands.
Opener Petersen began the reply aggressively and while his partner Jonathan Vandiar went cheaply for four from as many balls – clean bowled by Tait – the Lions captain produced a swashbuckling innings of 56 from 35 balls.
Petersen smashed seven fours and a six before being caught leg before by Daniel Christian.
Those opposite him did not fare as well, although Richard Cameron (17) and Thami Tsolekile (23) put up some resistance, the latter caught by Harris off Tait.