PORT ELIZABETH (South Africa), Sept 18 Davy Jacobs and Ashwell Prince shared a 147-run opening partnership as the Eastern Cape Warriors beat the Central Stags by six wickets in the Champions League Twenty20 match at St George's Park on Saturday.

The South African champions had to make the highest successful run chase of the tournament after the Stags made 175 for three in their 20 overs. It was the third win three matches in Group 'A' for the Warriors.

Jamie How, the Stags captain, batted through the innings for the New Zealand side for the second match in succession, following his unbeaten 77 against the Victoria Bushrangers on Wednesday with 88 not out on Saturday, but once again it was not enough to provide his inexperienced team with a winning platform.

Warriors captain Davy Jacobs again set the pace for his team, smashing two fours and two sixes off successive balls from Doug Bracewell in the fourth over.

While Jacobs played the big shots, hitting six sixes and five fours in his innings of 74 off 47 balls, the left-handed Prince provided ideal support, making 64 off 50 balls with four fours and two sixes.

Earlier How struck his runs off 57 balls with 12 fours and three sixes. He and Kieran Noema-Barnett (53 not out) put on an unbeaten 100 for the fourth wicket off 61 balls to put the Warriors under pressure.

Fast bowlers Rusty Theron and Makhaya Ntini, two of their leading performers in earlier matches, conceded 47 and 52 runs respectively in their four overs.

Meanwhile, Michael Klinger hit his third successive half-century as the South Australia Redbacks became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals with an eight-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in Durban on Friday night.

Redbacks captain Klinger hit 69 not out and shared a second successive century opening partnership with Daniel Harris (57) as the Australian side cruised to victory after bowling out Bangalore for 154.

The result meant that only one of Bangalore and fellow Indian Premier League giants Mumbai Indians can reach the knock-out phase — and they could yet be upstaged by host nation team the Highveld Lions. All three teams have won one match in Group 'B'.

Results

Played on Saturday

At St George's Park, Port Elizabeth Eastern Cape Warriors beat Central Stags by six wickets.

CENTRAL STAGS 175-3 in 20 overs (J.M. How 88 not out, K. Noema-Barnett 53 not out, B.M.K. Patton 24); EASTERN CAPE WARRIORS 181-4 in 19.1 overs (D.J. Jacobs 74, A.G. Prince 64; K. Noema-Barnett 2-28).

Played on Friday

At Kingsmead, Durban South Australia Redbacks beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by eight wickets.

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE 154 in 19.5 overs (L.R.P.L. Taylor 46, D. du Preez 46, C.L. White 25; D.T. Christian 4-23, S.W. Tait 2-23, G.D. Putland 2-37); SOUTH AUSTRALIA REDBACKS 155-2 in 18.3 overs (M. Klinger 69 not out, D.J. Harris 57, C.J. Ferguson 21 not out).—AFP