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Redbacks squashed in T20 opener

25th September, 2011
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South Australia continued Australia’s miserable start to the Champions League Twenty20 cricket tournament in India with a crushing 50-run loss to South Africa’s Warriors in Hyderabad on Sunday.

The Warriors, who defeated the Redbacks in the semi-finals of last year’s tournament, scored 5-171 after winning the toss.

The Redbacks’ chase never got any momentum as they lost wickets at regular intervals and finished at 6-121.

“We were a little out of our depth tonight,” Redbacks’ captain Michael Klinger said.

“They just played the conditions a lot better than us tonight.”

It was a second convincing loss in as many days for the two Australian representatives in the ten-team tournament, after NSW lost by seven wickets to South Africa’s Cape Cobras in Chennai on Saturday.

The Warriors’ win was set up by a swashbuckling 88 off 65 balls from opener Jon-Jon Smuts.

Big-hitting Smuts blasted ten fours and two sixes and controlled the innings after Ashwell Prince (three off two) was bowled by Shaun Tait i(1-53 off 4) in the second over.

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Smuts added 73 for the second wicket with Colin Ingram (30 off 24) and 80 for the third with wicketkeeper Mark Boucher (34 off 26).

Only part-time medium pacer Daniel Harris (2-23 off 4) and the clever changes of pace from Daniel Christian (2-24 of four) were able to contain the Warriors.

Daniel Harris (4 off 5) and Tom Cooper (3 off 5) both fell in the first three overs to Lonwabo Tsotsobe (2-30 off four) and the Redbacks never really recovered, slumping to 5-70 in the 11th over.

Captain and opener Michael Klinger (34 off 29) and Christian (26 not out off 28) provided the only real resistance.

The Redbacks play the Kolkata Knight Riders in Hyderabad on Tuesday, while the Blues face Trinidad and Tobago in Chennai on Wednesday.

Scores: Warriors 5-171 (Jon-Jon Smuts 88, Daniel Harris 2-23, Daniel Christian 2-24) after 20 overs. South Australia Redbacks 6-121, Michael Klinger 34, Lonwabo Tsotsobe 2-30).

Warriors win by 50 runs.

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