The Pro20 Cup Super 8s clash brings the teams together in T20 cricket for the first time since their dramatic decider in Paarl, where the Warriors claimed the title in a Super Over after both sides finished on 142.

This time, valuable points in the race for the semi-finals are at stake.

The Warriors sit second behind the Lions on 16 points, four ahead of third-placed Boland. A victory could take the hosts top with two matches remaining, while a bonus-point win would lift Boland above them.

Both teams opened their Super 8s campaigns with victories. The Warriors beat the Cobras by four wickets, while Boland chased down 175 to defeat the Dolphins by seven wickets at Kingsmead on Sunday.

That was Boland’s highest successful chase in domestic T20 cricket and continued an impressive campaign. They won six of their seven Pool A matches, suffering their only defeat against the Cobras, to finish second behind the Titans.

Boland have also come through a Super Over this season, beating the Titans after both teams made 137 in their allotted 20 overs. Having lost last year’s final in the same fashion, that result offered some encouragement ahead of another meeting with the Warriors.

The hosts took a less straightforward route through the pool stage, finishing third in Pool B with four wins from seven fixtures.

They lost their opening match to the North West Dragons and suffered an upset against Division Two side Eastern Cape Iinyathi in their final pool outing. Their meeting with the Lions in Gqeberha was abandoned without a ball bowled.

However, points brought forward from matches against fellow qualifiers, followed by the win over the Cobras, have left the Warriors well placed to push for another semi-final appearance.

For Boland, Thursday offers the chance to turn a strong run of results into a significant move up the table, against the team that denied them silverware a year ago.

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